As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 19, 2025
Securities Act Registration No. 333-281744
Investment Company Act Registration No. 811-23997
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
||
Pre-Effective Amendment No. | ☐ | |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 | ☒ |
and/or
|
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 |
|
Amendment No. 21 | ☒ |
TORTOISE CAPITAL SERIES TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
5901 College Boulevard, Suite 400
Overland Park, Kansas 66211
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(913) 981-1020
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Tom Florence
5901 College Boulevard, Suite 400
Overland Park, Kansas 66211
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Deborah Bielicke Eades
Vedder Price P.C.
222 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
☐ | Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
☐ | On _____________ pursuant to paragraph (b) |
☐ | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) |
☐ | On _____________ 2025 pursuant to paragraph (a) |
☒ | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |
☐ | On _____________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485 |
If appropriate, check the following box: | |
☐ | This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
The information contained in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, in any jurisdiction where sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED September 19, 2025
PROSPECTUS
TORTOISE MLP ETF
Ticker Symbol: [•]
Exchange: NYSE Arca
[●], 2025
Neither the United States (“U.S.”) Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
tABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
TORTOISE MLP ETF SUMMARY | 1 |
ADDITIONAL FUND INFORMATION | 10 |
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT | 24 |
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS | 27 |
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES | 29 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 34 |
Investment Objective
Tortoise MLP ETF, a series of Tortoise Capital Series Trust (the “Fund”), seeks investment results that correspond (before fees and expenses) generally to the price and distribution rate (total return) performance of the Tortoise MLP IndexSM (ticker symbol TMLP) (the “Underlying Index”).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Shareholder
Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
None |
Annual
Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
|
Management Fees | 0.50%(1) |
Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Fees | — |
Other Expenses | — |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.50% |
(1) | The Fund has adopted a unitary fee structure. Under such structure, the Adviser is responsible for paying the ordinary operating expenses of the Fund from the management fee. Ordinary operating expenses do not include brokerage commissions and transaction costs, leverage/borrowing expense, securities lending fees and similar expenses. See “Investment Management—the Investment Adviser” at page 24. |
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.
Although your costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
One Year | Three Years |
$51 | $160 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. Because the Fund is newly offered, portfolio turnover information is not available.
1
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and employs a “passive management” – or indexing – investment approach designed to track the performance of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is a float adjusted, capitalization weighted index of energy master limited partnerships (“MLPs”). The Underlying Index is comprised of publicly traded companies organized in the form of limited partnerships and limited liability companies engaged in the transportation, production, processing or storage of energy commodities. The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in derivative instruments intended to provide exposure to the securities that comprise the Underlying Index and in the securities comprising the Underlying Index. For purposes of compliance with this investment policy, derivative contracts will be valued at their notional value.
To be included in the Underlying Index, a company must be domiciled in the U.S. and its shares must be publicly traded and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ or NYSE MKT. Eligible constituents must also have a total market capitalization of at least $200 million USD at the time of inclusion in the Underlying Index and must maintain an average equity market capitalization of at least $175 million USD for a minimum of 20 trading days prior to the rebalance reference date of the Underlying Index.
Underlying Index constituents may include the following equity securities: 1) interests in energy MLPs as defined by the Energy Infrastructure Council (EIC); and 2) equity securities of energy MLP affiliates, including MLP I-Shares (indirect ownership interests in MLPs issued by MLP affiliates and referred to herein as “MLP Affiliates”). Companies included in the Underlying Index must pay a distribution greater than or equal to their minimum quarterly distribution at the time of inclusion in the Underlying Index. No individual constituent may exceed 7.5% of the Underlying Index value and securities of an MLP Affiliate family may not exceed 15% in the aggregate.
The Fund will invest primarily in derivative instruments intended to provide exposure to the securities that comprise the Underlying Index. The Fund may also invest directly in the securities comprising the Underlying Index or in securities that the Sub-Adviser (as defined below) believes will help the Fund track the performance of the Underlying Index. Derivative instruments may include, but are not limited to, total return swaps. No more than 25% of the Fund’s assets will be directly invested in qualified publicly traded partnerships, including MLPs. In addition to total return swaps and direct securities comprising the Underlying Index, the Fund may invest in Treasury securities, ETFs investing in Treasury securities, and money market Funds.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally will seek exposure to all of the securities that comprise the Underlying Index in proportion to their weightings in the Underlying Index either through investment in derivatives with exposure to the constituents of the Underlying Index or directly in Underlying Index constituents; however, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to achieve exposure to all of the securities in the Underlying Index in those weightings. In those circumstances, the Fund may utilize various available investment techniques to seek performance that corresponds to the Underlying Index.
2
As of June 30, 2025, the Underlying Index was comprised of 23 constituents. No constituents will be added to the Underlying Index between rebalance dates, which take place on a quarterly basis in March, June, September and December. Constituents in the Underlying Index may be removed from the Underlying Index due to corporate events such as mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies, takeovers, or delistings. Standard rebalances take place on a quarterly basis. Special rebalances are triggered by corporate actions and will be implemented as practically as possible on a case-by-case basis. Underlying Index constituent changes and updates, as well as any changes to the methodology, will be posted to http://tortoiseadvisors.com/. The Underlying Index is owned by the Adviser (as defined below) or an affiliate. The Adviser (also referred to herein as the “Index Provider”) provides the Underlying Index for use by the Fund at no cost to the Fund.
The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its total investment exposure) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. The Underlying Index and the Fund will be concentrated in the energy infrastructure industry. The Fund is a non-diversified fund.
Principal Risks
Risk is inherent in all investing, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency.
General Market Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that it will not achieve its investment objective and that the value of an investment in its securities could decline substantially and cause you to lose some or all of your investment. The Fund’s NAV and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain securities in the Fund’s portfolio may be worth less than the price originally paid for them, or less than they were worth at an earlier time.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives may be riskier than other types of investments because they may be more sensitive to changes in economic market conditions than other types of investments and could result in losses that significantly exceed the Fund’s original investment. A derivative is a financial contract the value of which depends on, or is derived from, the value of a financial asset, a physical asset, or a market index. Many derivatives create leverage thereby causing the Fund to be more volatile than it would be if it had not invested in derivatives. Derivatives also expose the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the derivative counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations). Additionally, derivatives may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules, which could cause adverse tax consequences and impact the amount, timing or character of income distributed by the Fund. Derivatives may be purchased on established exchanges or through privately negotiated transactions referred to as OTC derivatives. Exchange-traded derivatives generally are guaranteed by the clearing agency which is the issuer or counterparty to such derivatives. Each party to an OTC derivative bears the risk that the counterparty will default. OTC derivatives are less liquid than exchange-traded derivatives since the other party to the transaction may be the only investor with sufficient understanding of the derivative to be interested in bidding for it. The Fund will enter into total return swaps, among other instruments, for purposes of attempting to gain exposure to a particular asset without actually purchasing that asset. Such swap arrangements are OTC derivatives that will also subject the Fund to the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may not meet its obligations. To the extent the Fund enters utilizes derivatives, it will do so pursuant to the requirements of Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 18f-4”). Rule 18f-4 requires a Fund to implement certain policies and procedures designed to manage its derivatives risks, dependent upon a Fund’s level of exposure to derivative instruments. To the extent the Fund is noncompliant with Rule 18f-4, the Fund may be required to adjust its investment portfolio which may, in turn, negatively impact its implementation of its investment strategies.
3
Counterparty Risk. The Fund’s use of derivatives instruments, including OTC swap arrangements, involves risks that are different from those associated with direct investments in portfolio securities. For example, if a swap agreement counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of your investment in the Fund to decrease. The Fund may enter into derivatives arrangements with one or a limited number of counterparties.
Equity Securities Risk. Equity securities are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value. The equity securities held by the Fund may experience sudden, unpredictable drops in value or long periods of decline in value. This may occur because of factors affecting securities markets generally, the equity securities of energy infrastructure companies in particular, or a particular company.
Concentration Risk. Because the Fund’s investment exposure will be concentrated in the energy infrastructure industry, the Fund is subject to loss due to adverse occurrences that may affect that industry. The Fund’s focus in this industry presents more risk than if it were broadly diversified over numerous industries and sectors of the economy. An inherent risk associated with any investment focus is that the Fund may be adversely affected if a small number of its investments perform poorly.
Energy Infrastructure Risk. Companies in the energy infrastructure industry are subject to many risks that can negatively impact the revenues and viability of companies in this industry, including, but not limited to risks associated with companies owning and/or operating pipelines, gathering and processing assets, power infrastructure, propane assets, as well as capital markets, terrorism, natural disasters, climate change, operating, regulatory, environmental, supply and demand, and price volatility risks.
MLP Risk. MLPs are subject to many risks, including those that differ from the risks involved in an investment in the common stock of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have limited control and voting rights on matters affecting the partnership and are exposed to a remote possibility of liability for all of the obligations of that MLP. Holders of MLP units are also exposed to the risk that they will be required to repay amounts to the MLP that are wrongfully distributed to them. Furthermore, MLP interests may not be as liquid as other more commonly traded equity securities. The Fund is also subject to the risk that the pool of eligible MLP securities that comprise the Underlying Index diminishes in sizes due to market trends in that industry, including the conversion of MLPs to C-corporations for federal income tax purposes.
4
MLP Tax Risk. MLPs generally do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level, although under the centralized audit regime, MLPs are audited and imputed underpayments at the partnership level. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by such MLP and could result in a reduction in the value of your investment in the Fund.
MLP Affiliate Risk. The performance of securities issued by MLP Affiliates, including common shares of corporations that own general partner interests, primarily depends on the performance of an MLP. The risks and uncertainties that affect the MLP, its operational results, financial condition, cash flows and distributions also affect the value of securities held by that MLP’s affiliate.
Tax Status Risk. The Fund has elected to be, and intends to qualify each year for treatment as, a “regulated investment company” (a “RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To qualify as a RIC, the Fund’s investments in qualified publicly traded partnerships, including MLPs, is limited to 25% of total assets. To achieve its objective of tracking the performance of the Underlying Index, the Fund will obtain exposure to the Underlying Index through derivative transactions with reference assets that correlate to the performance of the Underlying Index or its individual constituents. The treatment of certain types of derivative transactions may be subject to differing interpretations or there may be limited guidance available. If for any taxable year the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC due to its interpretation of regulatory guidance or otherwise, its taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates and income available for distribution to shareholders will be reduced.
Liquidity Risk. The Fund may be exposed to liquidity risk when trading volume, lack of a market maker, or legal restrictions impair the Fund’s ability to sell particular securities at an advantageous price or in a timely manner. Illiquid or restricted securities cannot be sold immediately because of statutory and contractual restrictions on resale.
Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified,” which means the Fund will expose a larger percentage of its assets to a smaller number of issuers than would a diversified fund. Exposure to a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential losses than if its assets were diversified among a greater number of issuers.
New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized investment company with a limited operating history. As a result, prospective investors have a limited track record or history on which to base an investment decision.
Legal and Regulatory Change Risks. The regulatory environment for investment companies is evolving, and changes in regulation may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and its ability to pursue its trading strategy. The effect of any future regulatory change on the Fund could be substantial and adverse.
5
ETF-Related Risks
Passive Investment Risk. The Fund is not actively managed and therefore the Fund generally will not sell a security due to current or projected underperformance of a security, industry or sector, unless that security provides exposure to an issuer that is removed from the Underlying Index or the selling of the security is otherwise required upon a rebalancing of the Underlying Index.
Tracking Error Risk. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation to the Underlying Index and therefore achieve its investment objective. The Fund’s return may not match the return of its Underlying Index for a number of reasons, including differences between the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio and those included in the Underlying Index, pricing differences, transaction costs including costs associated with derivatives, the Fund’s holding of cash, differences in timing of the accrual of distributions or the tax character of distributions, changes to the Underlying Index or the need to meet various new or existing regulatory requirements. Consequently, the performance of the Fund may diverge from that of its Underlying Index. This risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions, or due to delays of the Fund in purchasing and selling securities. Tracking error also may result because the Fund incurs fees and expenses, while the Underlying Index does not.
Methodology Risks. The Index Provider relies on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Underlying Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Index Provider can offer assurances that the Underlying Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers or that the included issuers will provide the Fund with the market exposure it seeks.
Shares May Trade at Prices Different than NAV Per Share. Disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of extreme market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for shares of the Fund may result in shares trading at a significant premium or discount to NAV. If a shareholder purchases shares when the market price is at a premium to the NAV or sells shares when the market price is at a discount to the NAV, the shareholder may sustain losses.
Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. Only authorized participants ("Authorized Participants") may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. A limited number of institutions act as Authorized Participants for the Fund. However, participants are not obligated to make a market in the Fund’s shares or submit purchase and redemption orders for Creation Units. To the extent that these institutions exit the business, reduce their role or are unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders and no other Authorized Participant steps forward to create or redeem, the Fund’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to the Fund’s net asset value and possibly face delisting and the bid/ask spread on the Fund’s shares may widen.
6
Cash Transactions Risk. The Fund intends to effect a significant portion of creations and redemptions for cash rather than in-kind securities. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in an ETF that effects its creations and redemptions only in-kind. The Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities or other assets in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. Any recognized gain on these sales by the Fund will generally cause the Fund to recognize a gain it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities only in-kind. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees or transaction fees for derivative instruments. These brokerage fees, which will be higher than if the Fund sold and redeemed its shares entirely in-kind, will be passed on to those purchasing and redeeming Creation Units in the form of creation and redemption transaction fees. In addition, these factors may result in wider spreads between the bid and the offered prices of the Fund’s shares than for ETFs that distribute portfolio securities in-kind.
Market Maker Risk. The Fund faces numerous market risks, including the potential lack of an active market for Fund shares due to a limited number of market markers. Decisions by market makers or Authorized Participants to reduce their role or step away from these activities in times of market stress could inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying values of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the Fund’s market price. The Fund may rely on a small number of third-party market makers to provide a market for the purchase and sale of shares. Any trading halt or other problem relating to the trading activity of these market makers could result in a dramatic change in the spread between the Fund’s net asset value and the price at which the Fund’s shares are trading on the exchange, which could result in a decrease in value of the Fund’s shares. This reduced effectiveness could result in Fund shares trading at a discount to net asset value and in greater than normal intraday bid-ask spreads for Fund shares.
Trading Issues Risk. Trading in Fund shares on the Exchange (as defined below) may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Fund shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange’s “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. The Fund may have difficulty maintaining its listing on the Exchange in the event the Fund’s assets are small, the Fund does not have enough shareholders, or if the Fund is unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders.
Performance History
The Fund has not commenced operations and does not have a performance history.
Investment Adviser and Investment Sub-Adviser
Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (the “Adviser”)
Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (“ETC” or the “Sub-Adviser”)
7
Portfolio Managers
The Fund is managed by the Sub-Adviser’s portfolio management team. The individual members of the team jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio are Andrew Serowik, Gabriel Tan, CFA, Todd Alberico and Brian Cooper, all of whom share responsibility for such investment management and have each served as portfolio manager to the Fund since inception.
Purchase and Sale of Shares
The Fund will issue (or redeem) shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in blocks of shares known as “Creation Units.” ETF Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the relevant benchmark index. The Fund intends to effect redemptions primarily for cash, rather than in-kind securities. Individual shares may only be purchased and sold on a national securities exchange through a broker-dealer. The Fund currently expects to issue and redeem Creation Units primarily for cash because of the types of assets in which it invests. You can purchase and sell individual shares of the Fund throughout the trading day like any publicly traded security. The Fund’s shares are listed on NYSE Arca (the "Exchange"). The price of the Fund’s shares is based on market price, and because exchange-traded fund shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, the Fund’s shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the Fund’s shares are not redeemable securities.
Investors may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares of the Fund (ask) when buying or selling shares of the Fund in the secondary market (the “bid-ask spread”). Recent information about the Fund, including its NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available on the Fund’s website at https://tortoiseadvisors.com/.
The Fund anticipates that one or more institutional investors or private funds managed by the Adviser may make in-kind contributions of securities in qualifying exchanges under Section 351 of the Code.
Tax Information
Distributions made by the Fund may be taxable as ordinary income, or capital gains, unless you are a tax-exempt organization or are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from such tax-advantaged arrangement generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Index Provider/Trademark License/Disclaimer
The Adviser provides the Tortoise MLP IndexSM, the Underlying Index, to the Fund. The Adviser or an affiliate created the rules-based methodology of the Underlying Index.
8
The Underlying Index is the exclusive property of the Adviser or its affiliates. The Adviser has contracted with S&P Opco, LLC (a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC) to calculate and maintain the Underlying Index.
The Underlying Index is not sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates or its third-party licensors, including Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P Dow Jones Indices will not be liable for any errors or omissions in calculating the Underlying Index. “Calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices” and the related stylized mark(s) are service marks of S&P Dow Jones Indices and have been licensed for use by the Adviser and its affiliates. S&P® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC.
The Fund based on the Underlying Index is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices. S&P Dow Jones Indices does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the Underlying Index to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to the Adviser with respect to the Underlying Index is the licensing of certain trademarks, service marks and trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and the provision of the calculation services related to the Underlying Index. S&P Dow Jones Indices is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of the Fund or the timing of the issuance or sale of the Fund or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund may be converted into cash or other redemption mechanics. S&P Dow Jones Indices has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC is not an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security within the Underlying Index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it investment advice.
S&P DOW JONES INDICES DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION WITH RESPECT THERETO, INCLUDING ORAL, WRITTEN OR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE ADVISER, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE UNDERLYING INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE.
9
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks investment results that correspond (before fees and expenses) generally to the price and distribution rate (total return) performance of the Underlying Index. The Fund may change its investment objectives and Underlying Index without shareholder approval. The Fund’s other investment strategies and policies may be changed from time to time without shareholder approval, unless specifically stated otherwise in this Prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Additional Information About the Principal Investment Strategies
The following information is in addition to, and should be read along with, the description of the Fund’s principal investment strategies in the Fund Summary sections titled “Principal Investment Strategies” above.
The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in derivative instruments intended to provide exposure to the securities that comprise the Underlying Index and in the securities comprising the Underlying Index. If the Fund changes this 80% policy, it will provide Fund shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice in advance of such change.
The Fund, using an “indexing” investment approach, seeks to track the investment results, before fees and expenses, of its Underlying Index. Several factors may affect the Fund’s ability to achieve a high correlation with its Underlying Index, including Fund expenses, costs of effecting the Fund’s derivatives strategy, differences between the investment exposure in the Fund’s portfolio and the securities included in the Underlying Index, the timing or magnitude of changes to the composition of its Underlying Index, regulatory policies, and high portfolio turnover rate. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation with the Underlying Index.
The Sub-Adviser may sell securities that are represented in the Underlying Index (or derivatives providing exposure to such securities) or purchase securities not yet represented in the Underlying Index (or derivatives providing exposure to such securities), in anticipation of such securities removal from, or addition to, the Underlying Index. The Fund seeks to replicate exposure to the component securities of its Underlying Index as closely as possible. However, under certain circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to replicate exposure to all the components of the Underlying Index or to replicate the exact weighting of all the constituents of the Underlying Index. In these instances, the Fund may seek exposure to a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index. There may also be instances in which the Sub-Adviser may choose to overweight or underweight exposure to securities represented in the Underlying Index. Additionally, the Sub-Adviser may purchase or sell securities not in (or derivatives not linked to securities in) the Underlying Index if the Sub-Adviser believe such securities (or derivatives) are appropriate to substitute for certain securities in the Fund’s Underlying Index. The Sub-Adviser may utilize various combinations of other available investment techniques in seeking to track the Underlying Index.
10
As a result of its investments, the Fund’s distributions for any taxable year may exceed its earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For a given taxable year, fund distributions, if any, that exceed earnings and profits may be treated as a return of capital to shareholders.
Additional Principal Risk Information
The following section provides additional information regarding certain of the principal risks identified under “Principal Risks” in the Fund’s summary along with additional risk information.
General Market Risk. The Fund is subject to all of the business risks and uncertainties associated with any business, including the risk that it will not achieve its investment objective and that the value of an investment in its securities could decline substantially and cause you to lose some or all of your investment. U.S. and international markets have, and may continue to, experience volatility, which may increase risks associated with an investment in the Fund. Certain social, political, economic, environmental and other conditions and events (such as natural disasters and weather-related phenomena generally, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism, conflicts and social unrest) may adversely interrupt the global economy and result in prolonged periods of significant market volatility. Changes in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may be rapid or unpredictable and cause the NAV of the Fund and its investment return to fluctuate. These fluctuations may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer, industry, sector of the economy or the market as a whole. The market value of securities in which the Fund invests is based upon the market’s perception of value and is not necessarily an objective measure of the securities’ value. In some cases, for example, the stock prices of individual companies have been negatively impacted even though there may be little or no apparent degradation in the financial condition or prospects of the issuers.
Equity Securities Risk. Equity securities can be affected by macroeconomic and other factors affecting the stock market in general, expectations about changes in interest rates, investor sentiment towards equities, changes in a particular issuer’s or industry’s financial condition, or unfavorable or unanticipated poor performance of a particular issuer or industry. Prices of equity securities of individual entities also can be affected by fundamentals unique to the company or partnership, including earnings power and coverage ratios. An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular common stock held by the Fund. In addition, prices of common stocks are sensitive to general movements in the stock market and a drop in the stock market may depress the price of common stocks to which the Fund has exposure. Common stock prices may fluctuate for several reasons including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, or the occurrence of political or economic events that affect the issuers. In addition, common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, which increases borrowing costs and the costs of capital. Any of the foregoing risks could substantially impact the ability of such an entity to grow its dividends or distributions.
11
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives may be riskier than other types of investments because they may be more sensitive to changes in economic market conditions than other types of investments and could result in losses that significantly exceed the Fund’s original investment. A derivative is a financial contract the value of which depends on, or is derived from, the value of a financial asset, a physical asset, or a market index. Many derivatives create leverage thereby causing the Fund to be more volatile than it would be if it had not invested in derivatives. Derivatives also expose the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the derivative counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations) and to credit risk. Additionally, derivatives may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules, which could cause adverse tax consequences and impact the amount, timing or character of income distributed by the Fund. Derivatives may be purchased on established exchanges or through privately negotiated transactions referred to as OTC derivatives. Exchange-traded derivatives generally are guaranteed by the clearing agency which is the issuer or counterparty to such derivatives. Each party to an OTC derivative bears the risk that the counterparty will default. OTC derivatives are less liquid than exchange-traded derivatives since the other party to the transaction may be the only investor with sufficient understanding of the derivative to be interested in bidding for it. The Fund will enter into total return swaps, among other instruments, for purposes of attempting to gain exposure to a particular MLP security without actually purchasing that security. Such swap arrangements are OTC derivatives that will also subject the Fund to the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may not meet its obligations. To the extent the Fund enters utilizes derivatives, it will do so pursuant to the requirements of Rule 18f-4. Rule 18f-4 requires a Fund to implement certain policies and procedures designed to manage its derivatives risks, dependent upon a Fund’s level of exposure to derivative instruments. To the extent the Fund is noncompliant with Rule 18f-4, the Fund may be required to adjust its investment portfolio which may, in turn, negatively impact its implementation of its investment strategies.
Counterparty Risk. The Fund may invest in financial instruments involving counterparties that attempt to gain exposure to particular securities without actually purchasing those securities. The Fund’s use of such financial instruments, including swap arrangements, involves risks that are different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. For example, if a swap agreement counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of your investment in the Fund to decrease. The Fund may enter into swap arrangements with one or a limited number of counterparties.
MLP Risk. MLPs are subject to many risks, including those that differ from the risks involved in an investment in the common stock of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have limited control and voting rights on matters affecting the partnership. Holders of units issued by an MLP are exposed to a remote possibility of liability for all of the obligations of that MLP in the event that a court determines that the rights of the holders of MLP units to vote to remove or replace the general partner of that MLP, to approve amendments to that MLP’s partnership agreement, or to take other action under the partnership agreement of that MLP would constitute “control” of the business of that MLP, or a court or governmental agency determines that the MLP is conducting business in a state without complying with the partnership statute of that state. Holders of MLP units are also exposed to the risk that they will be required to repay amounts to the MLP that are wrongfully distributed to them. Furthermore, MLP interests may not be as liquid as other more commonly traded equity securities.
12
The Fund’s investment strategies depend in part on MLPs generally being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses, and takes that share into account in calculating its own U.S. federal income tax liability. A change in current tax law, or a change in the business of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP could be reduced and the after-tax return to the Fund with respect to its investment in such MLPs could be materially reduced. If any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction in the value of your investment in the Fund and lower distributions.
To the extent the Fund’s exposure to MLPs is through derivative instruments rather than directly, a recharacterization of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes may affect the timing, character and amounts of the income recognized by the Fund, and, thus, the timing, character and amounts of distributions made by the Fund to investors. The degree of the change, if any, would be affected by the nature of the derivative and the terms of the particular contract.
An MLP’s distributions to the Fund generally will not be taxable unless the cash amount distributed exceeds the Fund’s basis in its interest in the MLP. Distributions received by the Fund from an MLP will reduce the Fund’s adjusted basis in its interest in the MLP, but not below zero. Cash distributions in excess of the Fund’s basis in the MLP will generally be taxable to the Fund as capital gains. A reduced basis will generally result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes on the sale of its interest in the MLP. The Fund expects to receive cash distributions each year from certain MLPs that exceed the net taxable income allocated to the Fund from such MLPs for such year, and, as a result, the Fund may recognize larger taxable gains (or smaller losses) with respect to such MLPs when it disposes of its interests in such MLPs. If you hold shares in the Fund when such gains or losses are recognized, you may be required to pay tax on one or more Fund distributions, potentially at ordinary income tax rates, even though you may not have economically benefited from the associated MLP cash distributions.
If the Fund’s exposure to MLPs is through derivative instruments, a recharacterization of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes may affect the portion of the Fund’s investment that is treated as a return of capital and, thus, the amounts of distributions by the Fund that may be treated as returns of capital. The degree of the change, if any, would be affected by the nature of the derivative and the terms of the particular contract.
The Fund will report distributions made to shareholders annually on Form 1099. If an MLP in which the Fund invests amends its partnership tax return, the Fund will, when necessary, send you a corrected Form 1099, which could, in turn, require you to amend your federal, state or local tax returns.
MLP Affiliate Risk. The performance of securities issued by MLP Affiliates, including common shares of corporations that own general partner interests primarily depend on the performance of an MLP. As such, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and distributions for MLP Affiliates primarily depend on an MLP’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The risks and uncertainties that affect the MLP, its results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and distributions also affect the value of securities held by the MLP Affiliates.
13
Concentration Risk. The Fund’s strategy of focusing on a specific industry means that the performance of the Fund will be closely tied to the performance of that industry. The Fund’s focus in these investments may present more risk than if it were broadly diversified over numerous industries and sectors of the economy. A downturn in these investments would have a greater impact on the Fund than on a fund that does not focus in such investments. At times, the performance of these investments may lag the performance of other industries or the market as a whole. An inherent risk associated with a concentrated investment focus is that the Fund may be adversely affected if a small number of its investments perform poorly.
Energy Infrastructure Risk. Companies in the energy infrastructure industry are subject to many risks that can negatively impact the revenues and viability of companies in this industry, including, but not limited to risks associated with companies owning and/or operating pipelines, gathering and processing assets, power infrastructure, propane assets, as well as capital markets, terrorism, natural disasters, climate change, operating, regulatory, environmental, supply and demand, and price volatility risks.
Tax Status Risk. The Fund has elected to be, and intends to qualify each year for treatment as, a RIC under the Code. To qualify as a RIC, not more than 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in certain classes of securities, including MLPs, and the Fund must meet certain diversification and income tests (the "RIC Tests"). To achieve its objective of tracking the performance of the Underlying Index, the Fund will obtain exposure to the Underlying Index through derivative transactions with reference assets that correlate to the performance of the Underlying Index or its individual constituents. The treatment of certain types of such derivative transactions in which the Fund will invest is complex, subject to differing interpretations, and there may be limited or stale guidance available regarding the treatment of such derivative transactions for purposes of the RIC Tests. If for any taxable year the Fund fails to meet the RIC Tests, or otherwise fails to qualify as a RIC, due to its interpretation of regulatory guidance or otherwise, its taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates and income available for distribution to shareholders will be reduced. Additionally, if for any reason the Fund can no longer comply with the RIC Tests, the Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets and/or alter its strategy of tracking the Underlying Index through the use of derivative transactions, all of which could reduce income available for distribution to shareholders or increase tracking errors.
Liquidity Risk. The Fund may invest in securities (or derivatives tied to such securities) of any market capitalization and may be exposed to liquidity risk when trading volume, lack of a market maker, or legal restrictions impair the Fund’s ability to sell particular securities at an advantageous price or a timely manner. In the event certain securities experience limited trading volumes, the prices of such securities may display abrupt or erratic movements at times. In addition, it may be more difficult for the Fund to buy and sell significant amounts of such securities without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.
Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified,” which means the Fund will expose a larger percentage of its securities to a smaller number of issuers than would a diversified fund. Exposure to a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential losses than if its assets were diversified among a greater number of issuers.
14
Legal and Regulatory Change Risks. The regulatory environment for investment companies is evolving, and changes in regulation may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and its ability to pursue its trading strategy. In addition, the securities markets are subject to comprehensive statutes and regulations. The SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, other regulators and self-regulatory organizations and exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of market emergencies. The effect of any future regulatory change on the Fund could be substantial and adverse.
ETF-Related Risks
Passive Investment Risk. The Fund is not actively managed. Therefore, unless a specific security is removed from the Fund’s Underlying Index, or the selling of shares of that security is otherwise required upon a rebalancing of the Underlying Index as addressed in the Underlying Index methodology, the Fund generally will not sell a security (or derivative tied to such security) because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble. If a specific security is removed from the Fund’s Underlying Index, the Fund may be forced to sell such security (or derivative tied to such security) at an inopportune time or for a price discount to the current market value. The Fund anticipates that the value of its shares will decline, more or less, in correspondence with any decline in value of its Underlying Index. The Fund’s Underlying Index may not contain the appropriate mix of securities for any particular point in the business cycle of the overall economy, for any particular economic sectors, or for the narrow industries within which the commercial activities of the companies to which the Fund is exposed are conducted. The timing of movements from one type of security or financial instrument to another in seeking to replicate the Underlying Index could have a negative effect on the Fund. Unlike the manager of an actively managed fund, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser do not use techniques or defensive strategies designed to lessen the effects of market volatility or to reduce the impact of periods of market decline. This means that, based on market and economic conditions, the Fund’s performance could be lower than other types of funds that may actively shift their portfolio assets to take advantage of market opportunities or to lessen the impact of a market decline.
Tracking Error Risk. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation to the Underlying Index and therefore achieve its investment objective. The Fund’s return may not match the return of its Underlying Index for a number of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs a number of fees and operating expenses not applicable to the Underlying Index and incurs costs associated with buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund’s securities holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Underlying Index and if it needs to raise cash to meet redemptions or deploy cash in connection with newly created Creation Units. Imperfect correlation between the Fund’s portfolio securities and those in the Underlying Index, changes to the Underlying Index and regulatory requirements may cause tracking error, the divergence of the Fund’s performance from that of its Underlying Index. This risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. In addition, the Fund may not be able to invest in certain securities and other instruments included in the Underlying Index, or obtain exposure to them in the exact proportions represented in the Underlying Index. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling approach, the Fund may not be as well-correlated with the return of the Underlying Index as would be the case if the Fund purchased all the securities in the Underlying Index in the proportions represented in the Underlying Index. Moreover, the Fund may be delayed in purchasing or selling securities and other instruments providing exposure to the securities included in the Underlying Index. To the extent the Fund calculates its NAV based on fair value prices, the Fund’s ability to track the Underlying Index may be adversely affected.
15
Methodology Risks. The Index Provider relies on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Underlying Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Index Provider can offer assurances that Underlying Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers or that the included issuers will provide the Fund with the market exposure it seeks.
Absence of Active Trading Market Risk. Although shares of the Fund is listed for trading on one or more stock exchanges, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such shares will develop or be maintained. There can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing or trading of Fund shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.
Shares of the Fund May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV. Shares of the Fund may trade at, above or below its NAV. The NAV of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The trading prices of shares will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the Fund’s NAV as well as market supply and demand. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the securities of the Underlying Index trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. The market prices of Fund shares may deviate significantly from the NAV of the shares during periods of market volatility or when there is a lack of an active trading market for shares of the Fund. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that shares of the Fund normally will trade close to the Fund’s NAV, disruptions to creations and redemptions may result in trading prices that differ significantly from NAV. Investors purchasing and selling shares in the secondary market may not experience investment results consistent with those experienced by those creating and redeeming directly with the Fund. If a shareholder purchases shares when the market price is at a premium to the NAV or sells shares when the market price is at a discount to the NAV, the shareholder may sustain losses.
Trading Risks. The Fund faces numerous trading risks, including disruption in the creation/redemption process of the Fund and losses from trading in the secondary markets. Secondary market trading in Fund shares may be halted by a stock exchange because of market conditions or other reasons. In addition, trading in Fund shares on a stock exchange or in any market may be subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to “circuit breaker” rules on the exchange or market. Additionally, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities, or the ability to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments may be restricted, which may result in the Fund being unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments. In such circumstances, the Fund may be unable to rebalance its portfolio, may be unable to accurately price its investments and/or may incur substantial trading losses. During a “flash crash,” the market prices of the Fund’s shares may decline suddenly and significantly. Such a decline may not reflect the performance of the portfolio securities held by the Fund. Flash crashes may cause market makers in the Fund’s shares to limit or cease trading in the Fund’s shares for temporary or longer periods. Shareholders could suffer significant losses to the extent that they sell shares at these temporarily low market prices.
16
Additional Risks Related to Investing in the Energy Infrastructure Industry
Acquisition Risk. The abilities of MLP Entities to grow and to increase distributions can be highly dependent on their ability to make acquisitions that result in an increase in cash available for distributions. Recently, the acquisition market has become more competitive as a result of the increased amount of MLP Entities, as well as significant private equity interest in midstream energy assets. Almost all MLP Entities have been active in the third-party acquisition market. As a result, the competitive nature of the market has resulted in higher multiples, which may reduce the attractiveness of returns on acquisitions. Accordingly, MLP Entities may be unable to make accretive acquisitions because they are unable to identify attractive acquisition candidates, negotiate acceptable purchase contracts, raise financing for such acquisitions on economically acceptable terms or because they are outbid by competitors. Such circumstances may limit their future growth and their ability to raise distributions could be reduced. Furthermore, even if MLP Entities do consummate acquisitions that they believe will be accretive, the acquisitions may instead result in a decrease in operating income. Any acquisition involves risks, including, among other risks, mistaken assumptions about revenues and costs, the assumption of unknown liabilities, limitations on rights to indemnity from the seller, the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns, unforeseen difficulties operating in new product or geographic areas and customer or key employee losses at the acquired businesses.
Affiliated Party Risk. Certain energy companies are dependent on their parents or sponsors for a majority of their revenues. Any failure by such a company’s parents or sponsors to satisfy their payments or obligations would impact the company’s revenues and cash flows and ability to make distributions.
Cash Flow Risk. The amount and tax characterization of cash available for distribution by an MLP Entity depends upon the amount of cash generated by its operations. Cash available for distribution by MLP Entities will vary widely from quarter to quarter and is affected by various factors affecting the MLP Entities’ operations. In addition to the risks described herein, operating costs, capital expenditures, acquisition costs, construction costs, exploration costs and borrowing costs may reduce the amount of cash that an MLP Entity has available for distribution in a given period.
Commodity Price Volatility Risk. The volatility of energy commodity prices can significantly affect energy companies due to the impact of prices on the volume of commodities developed, produced, gathered and processed. Historically, energy commodity prices have been cyclical and exhibited significant volatility, which may adversely impact the value, operations, cash flows and financial performance of energy companies. The volatility of energy commodity prices can also indirectly affect certain entities that operate in the midstream segment of the energy industry due to the impact of prices on the volume of commodities transported, processed, stored or distributed.
17
Commodity price fluctuations may be swift and may occur for several reasons, including changes in global and domestic energy markets, general economic conditions, consumer demand, the price and level of foreign imports, the impact of weather on demand, levels of domestic and worldwide supply, levels of production, domestic and foreign governmental regulation, political instability, acts of war and terrorism, the success and costs of exploration projects, conservation and environmental protection efforts, the availability and price of alternative energy, taxation, and the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the other party or parties to an agreement or a participant to a transaction, such as a broker, might default on a contract or fail to perform by failing to pay amounts due or failing to fulfill the obligations of the contract or transaction.
Supply and Demand Risk. A decrease in the exploration, production or development of natural gas, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), crude oil, refined petroleum products, or a decrease in the volume of such commodities, may adversely impact the financial performance and profitability of energy companies. Production declines and volume decreases may be caused by various factors, including changes in commodity prices, oversupply, depletion of resources, declines in estimates of proven reserves, catastrophic events affecting production, labor difficulties, political events, production variance from expectations, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) actions, environmental proceedings, increased regulations, equipment failures and unexpected maintenance problems or outages, the inability of energy companies to obtain necessary permits or carry out new construction or acquisitions, unanticipated expenses, import supply disruption, increased competition from alternative energy sources, and other events. All of the above is particularly true for new or emerging areas of supply in North America that may have limited or no production history. Reductions in or prolonged periods of low prices for natural gas and crude oil can cause a given reservoir to become uneconomical for continued production earlier than it would if prices were higher.
A sustained decline in or varying demand for such commodities could also adversely affect the financial performance of energy companies. Factors that could lead to a decline in demand include economic recession or other adverse economic conditions, political and economic conditions, including embargoes, in other natural resource producing countries, hostilities in the Middle East, military campaigns and terrorism, OPEC actions, higher fuel taxes or governmental regulations, increases in fuel economy, consumer shifts to the use of alternative fuel sources, exchange rates, changes in commodity prices, and changes in weather.
In addition, the profitability of companies engaged in processing and pipeline activities may be materially impacted by the volume of natural gas or other energy commodities available for transporting, processing, storing or distributing. A significant decrease in the production of natural gas, oil, or other energy commodities, due to a decline in production from existing facilities, import supply disruption, depressed commodity prices or otherwise, would reduce revenue and operating income of such entities.
18
Reserve & Depletion Risk. Energy companies’ estimates of proven reserves and projected future net revenue are generally based on internal reserve reports, engineering data, and reports of independent petroleum engineers. The calculation of estimated reserves requires subjective estimates of underground accumulations and utilizes assumptions concerning future prices, production levels, and operating and development costs. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. As a result, estimated quantities of proved reserves, projections of future production rates, and the timing of related expenditures may likewise prove to be inaccurate. Any material negative inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions may materially lower the value of upstream energy companies. Future natural gas, NGL and oil production is highly dependent upon the success in acquiring or finding additional reserves that are economically recoverable. This is particularly true for new areas of exploration and development, such as in North American oil and gas reservoirs, including shale. A portion of any one upstream company’s assets may be dedicated to crude oil or natural gas reserves that naturally deplete over time, and a significant slowdown in the identification or availability of reasonably priced and accessible proven reserves for these companies could adversely affect their business.
Midstream and Power Infrastructure Company Risk. The Fund may be subject to midstream and power infrastructure company risk through its investments in pipeline companies. In addition to the other energy risks described herein, pipeline companies are subject to particular risks, including varying demand for crude oil, natural gas, NGLs or refined products in the markets served by the pipeline; changes in the availability of products for gathering, transportation, processing or sale due to natural declines in reserves and production in the supply areas serviced by the companies’ facilities; sharp decreases in crude oil or natural gas prices that cause producers to curtail production; reduced capital spending for exploration activities; or re-contracting at lower rates. Demand for gasoline, which accounts for a substantial portion of refined product transportation, depends on price, prevailing economic conditions in the markets served, and demographic and seasonal factors.
Gathering and processing companies are subject to many risks, including declines in production of crude oil and natural gas fields which utilize their gathering and processing facilities, prolonged depression in the price of natural gas or crude oil which curtails production due to lack of drilling activity, and declines in the prices of NGLs and refined petroleum products, resulting in lower processing or refining margins. In addition, the development of, demand for, and/or supply of competing forms of energy may negatively impact the revenues of these companies.
Propane companies are subject to many risks, including earnings variability based upon weather patterns in the locations where the company operates and the wholesale cost of propane sold to end customers. In addition, propane companies are facing increased competition due to the growing availability of natural gas, fuel oil and alternative energy sources for residential heating.
Power infrastructure companies are subject to many risks, including earnings variability based upon weather patterns in the locations where the company operates, the change in the demand for electricity, the cost to produce power, and the regulatory environment. Further, share prices are partly based on the interest rate environment, the sustainability and potential growth of the dividend, and the outcome of various rate cases undertaken by the company or a regulatory body.
19
Operating Risk. Energy companies are subject to many risks, including: equipment failure causing outages; structural, maintenance, impairment and safety problems; transmission or transportation constraints, inoperability or inefficiencies; dependence on a specified fuel source; changes in electricity and fuel usage; availability of competitively priced alternative energy sources; changes in generation efficiency and market heat rates; lack of sufficient capital to maintain facilities; significant capital expenditures to keep older assets operating efficiently; seasonality; changes in supply and demand for energy; catastrophic and/or weather-related events such as spills, leaks, well blowouts, uncontrollable flows, ruptures, fires, explosions, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, discharges of toxic gases and similar occurrences; storage, handling, disposal and decommissioning costs; and environmental compliance. Breakdown or failure of an energy company’s operating assets may prevent it from performing under applicable sales agreements, which in certain situations could result in termination of the agreement or in the company incurring a liability for liquidated damages. Because of these operating risks and other potential hazards, energy companies may become exposed to significant liabilities for which they may not have adequate insurance coverage. Any of the identified risks may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of energy companies.
The energy industry is cyclical and from time to time may experience a shortage of drilling rigs, equipment, supplies, or qualified personnel, or, due to significant demand, such services or equipment may not be available on commercially reasonable terms. A company’s ability to complete capital improvements to existing projects or invest in planned capital projects in a successful and timely manner is dependent upon many variables. Should any such efforts be unsuccessful, an energy company may be subject to additional costs and/or the write-off of its investment in the project or improvement. The marketability of oil and gas production depends in large part on the availability, proximity and capacity of pipeline systems owned by third parties. Oil and gas properties are subject to royalty interests, liens and other burdens, encumbrances, easements or restrictions, all of which may impact the production of a particular energy company. Oil and gas companies operate in a highly competitive and cyclical industry, with intense price competition. A significant portion of their revenues may depend on a relatively small number of customers, including governmental entities and utilities.
Energy companies engaged in interstate pipeline transportation of natural gas, refined petroleum products and other products are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) with respect to the tariff rates that these companies may charge for pipeline transportation services. An adverse determination to an energy company by the FERC with respect to such tariff rates may have a material adverse effect on that energy company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and on its ability to make cash distributions to its equity owners.
Regulatory Risk. Energy companies are subject to regulation by governmental authorities in various jurisdictions and may be adversely affected by the imposition of special tariffs and changes in tax laws, regulatory policies and accounting standards. Regulation exists with respect to multiple aspects of their operations, including: reports and permits concerning exploration, drilling, and production; how facilities are constructed, maintained and operated; how wells are spaced; the unitization and pooling of properties; environmental and safety controls, including emissions release, the reclamation and abandonment of wells and facility sites, remediation, protection of endangered species, and the discharge and disposition of waste materials; offshore oil and gas operations; and the prices energy companies may charge for the oil and gas produced or transported under federal and state leases and for other products and services. Various governmental authorities have the power to enforce compliance both with these regulations and permits issued pursuant to them, and violators may be subject to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, including fines, injunctions or both. Stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies may be enacted in the future which increase compliance costs and adversely affect the financial performance of energy companies. Additionally, legislation has been proposed that would, if enacted into law, make significant changes to U.S. federal income tax laws, including the elimination of certain U.S. federal income tax benefits currently available to oil and gas exploration and production companies.
20
The use of methods such as hydraulic fracturing may be subject to new or different regulation in the future. Any new state or federal regulations that may be imposed on hydraulic fracturing could result in additional permitting and disclosure requirements (including of substances used in the fracturing process) and in additional operating restrictions. The imposition of various conditions and restrictions on drilling and completion operations could lead to operational delays and increased costs and, moreover, could delay or effectively prevent the development of oil and gas from formations that would not be economically viable without the use of hydraulic fracturing.
Energy infrastructure companies engaged in interstate pipeline transportation of natural gas, refined petroleum products and other products are subject to regulation by FERC with respect to tariff rates these companies may charge for pipeline transportation services. An adverse determination by the FERC with respect to the tariff rates of an energy infrastructure company could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and its ability to make cash distributions to its equity owners. Certain MLPs regulated by FERC have the right, are not obligated, to redeem all their common units held by an investor who is not subject to U.S. federal income taxation at market value, with the purchase price payable in cash or via a three-year interest-bearing promissory note. Prices for certain electric power companies are regulated in the U.S. with the intention of protecting the public while ensuring that the rate of return earned by such companies is sufficient to attract growth capital and to provide appropriate services. The rates assessed for these rate-regulated electric power companies by state and local regulators are generally subject to cost-of-service regulation and annual earnings oversight. This regulatory treatment does not provide any assurance as to achievement of earnings levels. Changes in laws or regulations or changes in the application or interpretation of regulatory provisions in jurisdictions where electric power companies operate, particularly utilities where electricity tariffs are subject to regulatory review or approval, could adversely affect their business. The Fund could become subject to FERC’s jurisdiction if it is deemed to be a holding company of a public utility company or of a holding company of a public utility company, and the Fund may be required to aggregate securities held by the Fund or other funds and accounts managed by the Adviser and its affiliates. Accordingly, the Fund may be prohibited from buying securities of a public utility company or of a holding company of any public utility company or may be forced to divest itself of such securities because of other holdings by the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Adviser and its affiliates.
21
Environmental Risk. Energy company activities are subject to stringent environmental laws and regulation by many federal, state and local authorities, international treaties and foreign governmental authorities. A company’s failure to comply with such laws and regulations or to obtain any necessary environmental permits pursuant to such laws and regulations may result in the imposition of fines or other sanctions. Congress and other domestic and foreign governmental authorities have either considered or implemented various laws and regulations to restrict or tax certain emissions, particularly those involving air and water emissions. Existing environmental regulations may be revised or reinterpreted, new laws and regulations may be adopted or become applicable, and future changes in environmental laws and regulations may occur, each of which could impose significant additional costs on energy companies. Energy companies have made and will likely continue to make significant capital and other expenditures to comply with these and other environmental laws and regulations. There can be no assurance that such companies will be able to recover all or any increased environmental costs from their customers or that their business, financial condition, or results of operations will not be materially and adversely affected by such expenditures or by any changes in domestic or foreign environmental laws and regulations, in which case the value of these companies’ securities could be adversely affected. Energy companies may not be able to obtain or maintain all required environmental regulatory approvals. If there is a delay in obtaining any required environmental regulatory approvals or if an energy company fails to obtain, maintain, or comply with any such approval, the operation of its facilities could be stopped or become subject to additional costs. In addition, energy companies may be responsible for environmentally related liabilities, including any on-site liabilities associated with the environmental condition of facilities that it has acquired, leased or developed, or liabilities from associated activities, regardless of when the liabilities arose and whether they are known or unknown.
Hydraulic fracturing is a common practice used to stimulate production of natural gas and/or oil from dense subsurface rock formations such as shales that generally exist several thousand feet below ground. Some energy companies commonly apply hydraulic-fracturing techniques in onshore oil and natural gas drilling and completion programs. The process involves the injection of water, sand, and additives under pressure into a targeted subsurface formation. The water and pressure create fractures in the rock formations, which are held open by grains of sand, enabling the oil or natural gas to flow to the wellbore. The use of hydraulic fracturing may produce certain wastes that may in the future be designated as hazardous wastes and become subject to more rigorous and costly compliance and disposal requirements.
The EPA has commenced a study of potential environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water and groundwater. The EPA also announced in October 2011 that it is launching a study regarding wastewater resulting from hydraulic fracturing activities that such wastewater must meet before being transported to a treatment plant. In addition, the Department of Energy is investigating practices the agency could recommend to better protect the environment from drilling using hydraulic fracturing completion methods, and the Department of the Interior has proposed disclosure, well testing and monitoring requirements for hydraulic fracturing on federal lands. The White House Council on Environmental Quality and a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives are reviewing hydraulic-fracturing practices, and legislation has been introduced in Congress to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to require disclosure of the chemicals used in the fracturing process. Some states have also adopted, and other states are considering adopting, regulations that impose more stringent permitting, disclosure and well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations. Additional regulations may be imposed that would, among other things, limit injection of oil and gas well wastewater into underground disposal wells, because of concerns about the possibility of minor earthquakes being linked to such injection, an indirect byproduct to drilling unique to certain geographic regions. If new laws or regulations that significantly restrict hydraulic fracturing or associated activity are adopted, such laws may make it more difficult or costly for energy companies to perform fracturing to stimulate production from tight formations, which might adversely affect their production levels, operations, and cash flow, as well as the value of such companies’ securities.
22
Climate Change Regulation Risk. Climate change regulation may result in increased operations and capital costs for the companies in which the Fund invests. Voluntary initiatives and mandatory controls have been adopted or are being discussed both in the U.S. and worldwide to reduce emissions of “greenhouse gases” such as carbon dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels, which some scientists and policymakers believe contribute to global climate change. These current and future measures may result in certain companies in which the Fund invests incurring increased costs to operate and maintain facilities and to administer and manage a greenhouse gas emissions program, which in turn may reduce demand for fuels that generate greenhouse gases that are produced or managed or produced by such companies.
Terrorism Risk. Energy companies, and the market for their securities, are subject to disruption as a result of terrorism-related risks. These include terrorist activities, such as the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; wars, such as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and their aftermath; and other geopolitical events, including upheaval in the Middle East and other energy producing regions. Cyber hacking may also cause significant disruption and harm to energy companies. The U.S. government has issued warnings that energy industry assets, including exploration and production facilities as well as pipelines and transmission and distribution facilities, may be specific targets for terrorist activity. Such events have led, and in the future may lead, to short-term market volatility, and may also have long-term effects on companies in the energy industry and the market price of their securities. Such events may also adversely affect the business and financial condition of particular companies in which the Fund invests.
Natural Disaster Risk. Natural risks, such as earthquakes, flood, lightning, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes and wind, are inherent risks in energy company operations. For example, extreme weather patterns, such as Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Tohuku earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan in 2011, Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017, resulted in substantial damage to the facilities of certain companies located in the affected areas, created significant volatility in the supply of energy, and adversely impacted the prices of certain energy company securities. Future natural disasters, or even the threat thereof, may result in similar volatility and may adversely affect commodity prices and earnings of energy companies in which the Fund invests.
Exclusion of Adviser from Commodity Pool Operator Definition
An exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) has been claimed with respect to the Fund, and, therefore, the Adviser is not subject to CFTC registration or regulation as a CPO with respect to the Fund. In addition, the Adviser will rely upon an exemption from the definition of “commodity trading advisor” (“CTA”) under the CEA and the rules of the CFTC.
23
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings
The Fund’s entire portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business through the Fund’s website and may be made available through financial reporting and news services or any other medium, including publicly available Internet websites. Additional information regarding the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s SAI.
Investment Adviser
Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement, the Adviser provides the Fund with investment research and advice and furnishes the Fund with an investment program consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees. The Adviser determines which portfolio securities will be purchased or sold, arranges for the placing of orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, selects brokers or dealers to place those orders, maintains books and records with respect to the Fund’s securities transactions and reports to the Board of Trustees on the Fund’s investments and performance.
The Adviser is located at 5901 College Boulevard, Suite 400, Overland Park, Kansas 66211. The Adviser specializes in energy investing across the energy value chain, including infrastructure and MLPs. The Adviser was formed in October 2002 to provide portfolio management services to institutional and high-net-worth investors seeking professional management of their MLP investments. As of June 30, 2025, the Adviser had approximately $9.1 billion of client assets under management. The Adviser’s Investment Committee is comprised of four individuals.
The Adviser is indirectly controlled by Lovell Minnick Partners LLC (“Lovell Minnick”) and is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Tortoise Parent Holdco LLC (“Tortoise”). An entity formed by Lovell Minnick owned by certain private funds sponsored by Lovell Minnick and a group of institutional co-investors owns a controlling interest in Tortoise. Certain employees in the Tortoise complex own interests in Tortoise.
Investment Sub-Adviser
The Adviser has retained Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC to serve as sub-adviser for the Fund. ETC is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. ETC has provided investment advisory services to individual and institutional accounts since 2009. ETC is an Oklahoma limited liability company and is located at 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120. ETC is responsible for trading portfolio securities for the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the Indexes, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board. For its services, the ETC is paid a fee by the Adviser, which fee is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of the Fund and subject to a minimum annual fee as follows:
Annual Rate* |
4.0
bps (0.04%) on the first $250 million of the Fund’s net assets; 3.5 bps (0.035%) on the next $250 million of the Fund’s net assets; and 3.0 bps (0.03%) on Fund net assets in excess of $500 million. |
* | The Minimum Fee for the Fund shall be $30,000, however, once the total of the fees payable to the Sub-Adviser with respect to the Fund and other Tortoise Funds managed by the Sub-Adviser in any calendar year equals or exceeds the aggregate of the Minimum Fee payable by the Fund (or the pro rata portion of the aggregate Minimum Fee payable for partial calendar years), the Fund will not be required to make further payments of the Minimum Fee for that calendar year. |
24
A discussion of the factors that the Tortoise Capital Series Trust Board considered in approving the Sub-Advisory Agreement will be included in the Fund’s next Form N-CSR filing, when available.
Portfolio Managers
The Fund is managed by the Sub-Adviser’s portfolio management team. The individual members of the team jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio are described below.
Andrew Serowik. Mr. Serowik is a Portfolio Manager of ETC. Mr. Serowik began his career at Spear, Leeds & Kellogg (“SLK”), continuing with Goldman Sachs after its acquisition of SLK. During his career of more than 18 years at the combined companies, he held various leadership roles, including managing the global Quant ETF Strats team and managing One Delta ETF Strats. Mr. Serowik graduated from the University of Michigan in 1999 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance.
Gabriel Tan, CFA, CFP®. Mr. Tan is a Portfolio Manager of ETC. He began his career at UBS and BBR Partners where he worked as a financial planning analyst and a portfolio strategist for over four years. Mr. Tan graduated from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2013 with a B.S. in Business Administration, a B.A. in Economics, and a Minor in Chinese. He is a CFA charterholder.
Todd Alberico. Mr. Alberico is a Portfolio Manager of ETC. Prior to joining ETC, Mr. Alberico worked at Virtu Financial (formerly KCG) for six years. Mr. Alberico graduated from St. John’s University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science.
Brian Cooper. Mr. Cooper is a Portfolio Manager of ETC. Prior to joining ETC, Mr. Cooper worked at Falcon Management Corporation for 14 years. Mr. Cooper graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2002 with a B.S. in Finance and a Minor in Business Law.
Additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Fund are available in the SAI.
25
Buying and Selling Fund Shares
Shares of the Fund are expected to be listed on the Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. When you buy or sell shares on the secondary market, you will pay or receive the market price. The Fund’s shares will trade on the Exchange at prices that may differ to varying degrees from the daily NAV of the Fund’s shares. A “Business Day” with respect to the Fund is any day on which the Exchange is open for business. The Exchange is generally open Monday through Friday and is closed weekends and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
NAV per share for the Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Fund (i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of shares of the Fund outstanding. Expenses and fees, including management and distribution fees, if any, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. NAV is determined each Business Day, normally as of the close of regular trading of the Exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time).
You may incur customary brokerage commissions and charges and may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. Investors buying or selling shares in the secondary market will pay brokerage commissions or other charges imposed by brokers as determined by that broker.
Brokerage commissions are often a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell relatively small amounts of shares. In addition, secondary market investors will also incur the cost of the difference between the price that an investor is willing to pay for shares (the “bid” price) and the price at which an investor is willing to sell shares (the “ask” price). This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the “spread” or “bid/ask spread.” The bid/ask spread varies over time for shares based on trading volume and market liquidity and is generally lower if the Fund’s shares have more trading volume and market liquidity and higher if the Fund’s shares have little trading volume and market liquidity. Further, increased market volatility may cause increased bid/ask spreads. Due to the costs of buying or selling shares, including bid/ask spreads, frequent trading of shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
The Fund’s portfolio securities generally are valued at market price. Securities are valued at fair value when market quotations are not readily available. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Trust Board”) has adopted procedures to be followed when the Fund must utilize fair value pricing, including when reliable market quotations are not readily available, when the Fund’s pricing services do not provide a valuation (or provides a valuation that, in the judgment of the Adviser, does not represent the security’s fair value), or when, in the judgment of the Adviser, events have rendered the market value unreliable (see, for example, the discussion of fair value pricing of foreign securities in the paragraph below). The Trust Board reviews, no less frequently than annually, the adequacy of the Fund’s policies and procedures and the effectiveness of their implementation. Valuing securities at fair value may result in a different price being used in the calculation of the Fund’s NAV from quoted or published prices for the same securities. Fair value determinations are made in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trust Board. There can be no assurance that the Fund will obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it sells the security.
26
In certain circumstances, the Fund may employ fair value pricing to ensure greater accuracy in determining daily NAV. Fair value pricing may be applied to foreign securities held by the Fund upon the occurrence of an event after the close of trading on non-U.S. markets but before the close of trading on the Exchange when the Fund’s NAV is determined. If the event may result in a material adjustment to the price of the Fund’s foreign securities once non-U.S. markets open on the following Business Day (such as, for example, a significant surge or decline in the U.S. market), the Fund may value such foreign securities at fair value, taking into account the effect of such event, in order to calculate the Fund’s NAV.
Other types of portfolio securities that the Fund may fair value include but are not limited to: (1) investments that are illiquid or traded infrequently, including “restricted” securities and private placements for which there is no public market; (2) investments for which, in the judgment of the Adviser, the market price is stale; and (3) securities for which trading has been halted or suspended.
Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments, and it is possible that a fair value determination for a security will materially differ from the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security.
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares. The Fund does not impose any restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions of Creation Units; however, the Fund reserves the right to reject or limit purchases at any time as described in the SAI. When considering that no restriction or policy was necessary, the Trust Board evaluated the risks posed by arbitrage and market timing activities, such as whether frequent purchases and redemptions would interfere with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategy, or whether they would cause the Fund to experience increased transaction costs. The Trust Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, shares are issued and redeemed only in large quantities of shares known as Creation Units available only from the Fund directly to Authorized Participants, and that most trading in the Fund occurs on the Exchange at prevailing market prices and does not involve the Fund directly. Given this structure, the Trust Board determined that it is unlikely that trading due to arbitrage opportunities or market timing by shareholders would result in negative impact to the Fund or its shareholders. In addition, frequent trading of shares by Authorized Participants and arbitrageurs is critical to helping the market price remain at or close to NAV.
Distribution and Service Plan of the Fund
The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of shares or for providing or arranging for others to provide shareholder services and for the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The Fund currently does not charge 12b-1 fees and such fees may only be imposed after approval by the Trust Board. If payments are made in the future, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
27
Payments to Financial Intermediaries
The Adviser, out of its own resources and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may pay intermediaries for the sale of Fund shares and related services, including participation in activities that are designed to make intermediaries more knowledgeable about exchange traded products. Payments are generally made to intermediaries that provide shareholder servicing, marketing and related sales support, educational training or support, or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary. Payments may also be made to intermediaries for making shares of the Fund available to its customers generally and in investment programs. The Adviser may also reimburse expenses or make payments from its own resources to intermediaries in consideration of services or other activities the Adviser believes may facilitate investment in the Fund.
The possibility of receiving, or the receipt of, the payments described above may provide intermediaries or its salespersons with an incentive to favor sales of shares of the Fund, and other funds whose affiliates make similar compensation available, over other investments that do not make such payments. Investors may wish to take such payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to the Fund and other ETFs.
Fund Service Providers
[•] serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund.
U.S. Bank, National Association acts as the custodian for the Fund.
U.S. Bank, Global Fund Services acts as the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent for the Fund.
Vedder Price P.C., serves as legal counsel to the Fund.
Chapman & Cutler LLP, serves as special tax counsel to the Fund.
Morrison & Foerster LLP serves as legal counsel to the Independent Trustees.
Additional Information
The Fund may enter into contractual arrangements with various parties, including among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to or intended (or “third party”) beneficiaries of, those contractual arrangements.
The Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus nor the SAI is intended to give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.
28
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
General Policies. The Fund expects to pay out dividends from distributable cash flow quarterly.
Dividends and other distributions on shares are distributed, as described below, on a pro rata basis to shareholders of the Fund. Dividend payments are made through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants to shareholders of record with proceeds received from the Fund.
The Fund may make additional distributions to the extent necessary (i) to distribute its entire annual investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction), plus its net capital gain, if any, and (ii) to avoid imposition of the excise tax imposed by Section 4982 of the Code. Management of the Trust reserves the right to declare special dividends if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve the Fund’s eligibility for treatment as a RIC or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.
Dividend Reinvestment Service. The Trust will not make the DTC book-entry dividend reinvestment service available for use by shareholders for reinvestment of their cash proceeds, but certain individual broker-dealers may make available the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service for use by shareholders of the Fund through DTC Participants for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Investors should contact their brokers to ascertain the availability and description of these services. Shareholders should be aware that each broker may require investors to adhere to specific procedures and timetables in order to participate in the dividend reinvestment service and investors should ascertain from their brokers such necessary details. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole shares issued by the Trust of the same Fund at NAV. Distributions reinvested in additional shares of the Fund will be taxable to shareholders to the same extent as if such distributions had been received in cash.
Tax Consequences
The following discussion is a general summary of material U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are U.S. holders (as defined below). The discussion reflects applicable U.S. federal income tax laws as of the date of this Prospectus, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), possibly with retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income, estate, gift, state, local or foreign tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the Fund). The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the specific tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund, including applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them or the effect of possible changes in tax laws.
29
In addition, no attempt is made to address tax considerations applicable to an investor with a special tax status, such as a financial institution, REIT, insurance company, RIC, individual retirement account, other tax-exempt organization, dealer in securities or currencies, person holding shares of the Fund as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or straddle transaction or constructive sale, trader in securities that has elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for its securities, U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, investor with “applicable financial statements” within the meaning of section 451(b) of the Code or Non-U.S. holders. Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes the Fund’s shares are held by U.S. holders and that such shares are held as capital assets.
A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of the shares of the Fund that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
· | a citizen or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and former long-term residents); |
· | a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
· | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
· | a trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or the trust has made a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
A “Non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is an individual, corporation, trust or estate and is not a U.S. holder. If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of the Fund, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. This federal income tax summary is based in part on the advice of counsel to the Fund. The IRS could disagree with any conclusions set forth in this section. The following disclosure may not be sufficient for you to use for the purpose of avoiding penalties under federal tax law.
As with any investment, you should seek advice based on your individual circumstances from your own tax adviser.
30
Fund Status. The Fund intends to qualify as a RIC under the Code. If the Fund qualifies as a RIC and distributes to its shareholders at least 90% of the sum of (1) its “investment company taxable income,” as that term is defined in the Code (which includes, among other items, dividends, taxable interest and the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, as reduced by certain deductible expenses) without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and (2) the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest income, if any, over certain deductions attributable to such interest income that are otherwise disallowed, the Fund will be relieved of U.S. federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains, distributed to shareholders. However, if the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or “net capital gain” (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate federal income tax rates on the amount retained. The Fund intends to distribute at least annually substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt interest and net capital gain.
If the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC in any taxable year, it will be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation on its taxable income and distributions to the Fund’s shareholders will not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income.
Under the Code, the Fund generally will also be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on the undistributed portion of its ordinary income and capital gains if it fails to meet certain distribution requirements with respect to each calendar year. In order to avoid the 4% federal excise tax, the required minimum distribution is generally equal to the sum of (1) 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income (computed on a calendar year basis), (2) 98.2% of the Fund’s capital gain net income (generally computed for the one-year period ending on October 31), and (3) certain amounts from previous years to the extent such amounts have not been treated as distributed or been subject to tax under Subchapter M of the Code. The Fund generally intends to make distributions in a timely manner in an amount at least equal to the required minimum distribution and therefore, under normal conditions, does not currently expect to be subject to this excise tax.
If the Fund invests in certain pay-in-kind securities, zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities or, in general, any other securities with original issue discount (or with market discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the Fund must accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Fund must distribute to shareholders, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), including such income it is required to accrue, to qualify as a RIC and avoid federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Fund may have to dispose of its portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash or may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements.
Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (1) convert distributions that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income into ordinary income taxed at the higher rate applicable to ordinary income, (2) treat distributions that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction as ineligible for such treatment, (3) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (4) convert long-term capital gain into short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (5) convert an ordinary loss or deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (6) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (7) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (8) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions, and (9) produce income that will not be included in the sources of income from which a RIC must derive at least 90% of its gross income each year. While it may not always be successful in doing so, the Fund will seek to avoid or minimize any adverse tax consequences of its investment practices.
31
Distributions. The Fund’s distributions are generally taxable. After the end of each year, you will receive a tax statement that separates the distributions of the Fund into different categories, including identifying ordinary income distributions and capital gain dividends. Ordinary income distributions are generally taxed at your ordinary income tax rate, however, as further discussed below certain ordinary income distributions received from the Fund may be taxed at the capital gains income tax rates. Generally, you will treat all net capital gain dividends (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) as long-term capital gains regardless of how long you have owned your shares.
Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated, first, as a tax-deferred return of capital, which is applied against and will reduce the adjusted basis of the Fund shares and, after such adjusted basis is reduced to zero, generally will constitute capital gain. Return of capital distributions do not represent income or gains generated by the Fund's investment activities and should not be interpreted by shareholders as such. A return of capital distribution generally will not be taxable currently but will reduce the shareholder's cost basis and will result in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when those Fund shares on which the distribution was received are sold.
To determine your actual tax liability for your net capital gain dividends, you must calculate your total net capital gain or loss for the tax year after considering all of your other taxable transactions, as described below. In addition, the Fund may make distributions that represent a return of capital for federal income tax purposes and thus will generally not be taxable to you; however, such distributions may reduce your tax basis in your shares, which could result in you having to pay a greater amount of tax in the future when shares are sold, even if you sell the shares at a loss from your original investment. A “return of capital” is a return, in whole or in part, of the funds that you previously invested in a fund. A return of capital distribution should not be considered part of the Fund’s dividend yield or total return of an investment in Fund shares. The federal income tax status of your distributions from the Fund is not affected by whether you reinvest your distributions in additional shares or receive them in cash. The income from the Fund that you must take into account for federal income tax purposes is not reduced by amounts used to pay a deferred sales fee, if any. The tax laws may require you to treat distributions made to you in January as if you had received them on December 31 of the previous year.
Dividends Received Deduction. A corporation that owns shares generally will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to any dividends received from the Fund because the dividends received deduction is generally not available for distributions from RICs. However, certain ordinary income dividends on shares that are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Fund from certain corporations may be reported by the Fund as being eligible for the dividends received deduction provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied by both the Fund and the shareholder.
32
Capital Gains and Losses and Certain Ordinary Income Dividends. If you are an individual, the maximum marginal stated federal tax rate for net capital gain is generally 20% (15% or 0% for taxpayers with taxable incomes below certain thresholds). Some capital gains, including some portion of your capital gain dividends may be taxed at a higher maximum stated tax rate. Capital gains may also be subject to the Medicare tax described above.
Capital gain or loss is long-term if the holding period for the asset is more than one year and is short-term if the holding period for the asset is one year or less. You must exclude the date you purchase your shares to determine your holding period. However, if you receive a capital gain dividend from the Fund and sell your shares at a loss after holding them for six months or less, the loss will be recharacterized as long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain dividend received. The tax rates for capital gains realized from assets held for one year or less are generally the same as for ordinary income. The Code treats certain capital gains as ordinary income in special situations.
An election may be available to you to defer recognition of the gain attributable to a capital gain dividend if you make certain qualifying investments within a limited time. You should talk to your tax adviser about the availability of this deferral election and its requirements.
Ordinary income dividends received by an individual shareholder from a RIC such as the Fund are generally taxed at the same rates that apply to net capital gain (as discussed above), provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied and provided the dividends are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Fund itself. The Fund will provide notice to its shareholders of the amount of any distribution which may be taken into account as a dividend that is eligible for the capital gains tax rates.
An additional 3.8% “Medicare tax” is imposed on the net investment income of certain individuals with a modified adjusted gross income of over $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of joint filers) and on the undistributed net investment income of certain estates and trusts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally will include interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rent, net gain attributable to the disposition of property not held in a trade or business (including net gain from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of shares of the Fund) and certain other income, but will be reduced by any deductions properly allocable to such income or net gain. Thus, certain of the Fund’s taxable distributions and gains on the sale of Fund shares may be subject to this additional tax.
Sale of Shares. If you sell or redeem your shares, you will generally recognize a taxable gain or loss. To determine the amount of this gain or loss, you must subtract your tax basis in your shares from the amount you receive in the transaction. Your tax basis in your shares is generally equal to the cost of your shares, generally including brokerage fees, if any. In some cases, however, you may have to adjust your tax basis after you purchase your shares. An election may be available to you to defer recognition of capital gain if you make certain qualifying investments within a limited time. You should talk to your tax adviser about the availability of this deferral election and its requirements. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any net capital gain dividends you received with respect to such shares and any loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund generally will be disallowed if you acquire other shares of the Fund or other substantially identical shares within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date that you dispose of the shares. In such case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Capital losses are subject to limitations under the Code.
33
Treatment of Fund Expenses. Expenses incurred and deducted by the Fund will generally not be treated as income taxable to you.
Other Information
For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund is treated as registered investment company. Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including shares of the Fund. The SEC has issued an exemptive order on which the Fund relies on permitting registered investment companies to invest in exchange-traded funds offered by the Adviser beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions, including that such registered investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.
Continuous Offering
The method by which Creation Units are purchased and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units is issued and sold by the Fund on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the Prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.
For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into individual shares, and sells such shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the 1933 Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to categorization as an underwriter.
Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act is not available with respect to such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. As a result, broker dealer-firms should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted with ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with shares that are part of an over-allotment within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(a) of the 1933 Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to shares of the Fund are reminded that under Rule 153 of the 1933 Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the CBOE BZX Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the Fund’s Prospectus is available on the SEC’s electronic filing system. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.
34
Premium/Discount Information
Information regarding how often the shares of the Fund is traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Fund is available at https://tortoisecapital.com/.
For More Information
You can find more information about the Fund in the following documents:
Statement of Additional Information
Please refer to the SAI for additional information on the Fund. The SAI provides additional details about the investments and techniques of the Fund and certain other additional information. A current SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference. This means that the SAI is legally considered a part of this Prospectus even though it is not physically within this Prospectus.
Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR. In the annual report you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the prior fiscal year. In Form N-CSR, you will find the Fund’s annual and semi-annual financial statements.
You can obtain a free copy of these documents and the SAI, request other information, or make general inquiries about the Fund by calling the Fund (toll-free) at (855) 994-4437, by visiting the Adviser’s website at https://tortoisecapital.com/ or by writing to:
Tortoise MLP ETF
5901 College Boulevard, Suite 400
Overland Park, Kansas 66211
You can review and copy information, including the Fund’s reports and SAI: Free of charge from the SEC’s EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov; or for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
35
The information in this preliminary statement of additional information is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary statement of additional information is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED September 19, 2025
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Tortoise Capital Series Trust (the “Trust”)
TORTOISE MLP ETF
Ticker Symbol: [•]
Exchange: NYSE Arca
[●], 2025
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI relates to and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of Tortoise MLP ETF (the “Fund”) dated [●], 2025. A copy of the Fund’s prospectus (the “Prospectus”) may be obtained at no charge by calling the Fund at (855) 994-4437.
You may obtain a copy of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, when available, at no charge by contacting the Fund at the phone number noted above.
tABLE OF CONTENTS
- i -
The Fund is a non-diversified, passively managed ETF that is a series of the Trust. The Trust was organized as a Maryland statutory trust on August 13, 2024. The Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as open-end management investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”), and the continuous offering of the Fund’s shares will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board," "Trustees" or “Board of Trustees”) has the right, without shareholder approval, to establish additional series in the future; to determine the preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges thereof; and to modify such preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges. Shares of any series may also be divided into one or more classes at the discretion of the Trustees.
All shares of a series shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets held with respect to that series (subject to the liabilities held with respect to that series and such rights and preferences as may have been established and designated with respect to classes of shares of such series), and each share of a series shall be equal to each other share of that series.
Shares are voted in the aggregate and not by series or class, except in matters where a separate vote is required by the 1940 Act, or when the matters affect only the interest of a particular series or class. The governing instrument for the Trust provides that each shareholder of the Trust is entitled to one vote per share, and the ability to vote the fraction of any fractional share, on any matter on which the shares are entitled to vote.
The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Meetings of the shareholders shall be called by the Secretary of the Trust upon written request of shareholders holding, in the aggregate, not less than a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares, such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be called.
The Board has the authority from time to time to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares of that series without materially changing the proportionate beneficial interest of the shares of that series in the assets belonging to that series or materially affecting the rights of shares of any other series. In case of the liquidation of a series, the holders of shares of the series being liquidated are entitled to receive a distribution out of the assets, net of the liabilities, belonging to that series. Expenses attributable to any series (or class thereof) are borne by that series (or class). Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular series are allocated by, or under the direction of, the Board to all applicable series (and classes thereof) in such manner and on such basis as the Board in its sole discretion deems fair and equitable. No shareholder is liable to further calls for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever with respect to the Trust or any series of the Trust without his or her express consent.
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of the Fund’s shares, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, and all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, subject only to the rights of creditors, shall constitute the underlying assets of the Fund.
S-1
The Fund offers and issues shares at its net asset value (“NAV”) per share only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (each a “Creation Unit”). The Fund currently expects to issue and redeem Creation Units primarily for cash because of the types of assets in which it invests. The Fund generally offers and issues shares in exchange for a basket of securities, assets or other positions in which it invests (“Deposit Securities”), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (“Cash Component”). The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a “cash in lieu” amount (“Deposit Cash”) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security. The shares of the Fund will be listed and traded on NYSE Arca (the “Exchange”). The Fund’s shares will trade on the Exchange at market prices. These prices may differ from the NAV of the Fund’s shares. The Fund’s shares are also redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, and generally in exchange for portfolio securities and a specified cash payment.
Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions. The Trust may impose a transaction fee for each creation or redemption (the “Transaction Fee”). In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities. The Fund may charge, either in lieu of or in addition to the fixed creation or redemption Transaction Fee, a variable fee for creations and redemptions in order to cover certain brokerage, tax, foreign exchange, execution, market impact and other costs and expenses related to the execution of trades resulting from such transaction, up to a maximum of 2.00% of the NAV per Creation Unit, inclusive of any Transaction Fees charged (if applicable).
Investment Objectives, Policies, Strategies and Associated Risks
The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Board without approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Investment limitations identified as fundamental may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities (which for this purpose and under the 1940 Act, means the lesser of (1) 67% of the voting shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares are represented or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares). There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Fund is set forth under the “Summary Section” in the Fund’s Prospectus.
The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund’s investment objective, policies and techniques that are described in the Prospectus and contains more detailed information about the types of instruments in which the Fund may invest, strategies Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, or Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser” or “ETC”), the Fund’s investment sub-adviser, may employ in pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective and a discussion of related risks.
S-2
Diversification
The Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” classification means that the Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. This means that the Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a diversified fund. The securities of a particular issuer may constitute a greater portion of the Tortoise MLP IndexSM (ticker symbol TMLP) (the “Underlying Index”) and, therefore, the securities may constitute a greater portion of the Fund’s portfolio. This may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s performance or subject the Fund’s shares to greater price volatility than more diversified investment companies. Moreover, in pursuing its objective, the Fund may hold the securities of a single issuer in an amount exceeding 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, subject to restrictions imposed by Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In particular, as the Fund’s size grows and its assets increase, it will be more likely to hold more than 10% of the voting securities of a single issuer if the issuer has a relatively small public float as compared to other components in its Underlying Index.
Because the Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Code, the Fund will limit its investment, excluding cash, cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, so that at the close of each quarter of the taxable year, (1) not more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets will be invested in the securities of a single issuer, and (2) with respect to 50% of its total assets, not more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets will be invested in the securities of a single issuer nor represent more than 10% of the issuer’s outstanding voting securities.
Market Volatility
U.S. and international markets have from time to time experienced significant volatility. Certain social, political, economic, environmental and other conditions and events (such as natural disasters and weather-related phenomena generally, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism, tariffs, trade wars, inflation, conflicts and social unrest) may adversely interrupt the global economy and result in prolonged periods of significant market volatility. During certain volatile periods, the fixed income markets have experienced substantially lower valuations, reduced liquidity, price volatility, credit downgrades, increased likelihood of default and valuation difficulties. At times, concerns have spread to domestic and international equity markets. In some cases, the stock prices of individual companies have been negatively affected even though there may be little or no apparent degradation in the financial conditions or prospects of that company. Continued volatility may have adverse effects on the Fund, and the risks discussed below and in the Prospectus may increase.
Concentration
The Fund concentrates its investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as described in the Prospectus. The securities of issuers in particular industries may dominate the Underlying Index of the Fund and consequently the Fund’s investment portfolio. This may adversely affect the Fund’s performance or subject its shares to greater price volatility than that experienced by less concentrated investment companies.
S-3
Equity Securities
Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the NAV of the Fund to fluctuate.
Common Stocks
Common stock represents an equity ownership interest in the profits and losses of a corporation, after payment of amounts owed to bondholders, other debt holders, and holders of preferred stock. Holders of common stock generally have voting rights, but the Fund does not expect to have voting control in any of the companies in which they invest. In addition to the general risks set forth above, investments in common stocks are subject to the risk that in the event a company in which the Fund invests is liquidated, the holders of preferred stock and creditors of that company will be paid in full before any payments are made to the Fund as holders of common stock. It is possible that all assets of that company will be exhausted before any payments are made to the holders of common stock.
Master Limited Partnerships
A master limited partnership (“MLP”) is an entity that is generally taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes if certain qualifying income requirements are met.
An MLP has one or more general partners (who may be individuals, corporations, or other partnerships) which manage the partnership, and limited partners, which provide capital to the partnership but have no role in its management. Typically, the general partner is owned by company management or another publicly traded sponsoring corporation. When an investor buys units in an MLP, the investor becomes a limited partner.
MLPs are formed in several ways. A non-traded partnership may decide to go public. Several non-traded partnerships may roll up into a single MLP. A corporation may spin off a group of assets or part of its business into an MLP of which it is the general partner, to realize the assets’ full value on the marketplace by selling the assets and using the cash proceeds received from the MLP to address debt obligations or to invest in higher growth opportunities, while retaining control of the MLP. A corporation may fully convert to an MLP, although tax consequences have made this an unappealing option for most corporations. Unlike the ways described above, it is also possible for a newly formed entity to commence operations as an MLP from its inception.
The sponsor or general partner of an MLP, other energy companies, and utilities may sell assets to MLPs in order to generate cash to fund expansion projects or repay debt. The MLP structure essentially transfers cash flows generated from these acquired assets directly to MLP limited partner unitholders.
In the case of an MLP buying assets from its sponsor or general partner, the transaction is intended to be based upon comparable terms in the acquisition market for similar assets. To help ensure that appropriate protections are in place, the board of the MLP generally creates an independent committee to review and approve the terms of the transaction. The committee often obtains a fairness opinion and can retain counsel or other experts to assist its evaluation. Since both parties normally have a significant equity stake in the MLP, both parties are aligned to see that the transaction is accretive and fair to the MLP.
S-4
As a motivation for the general partner to successfully manage the MLP and increase cash flows, the terms of MLPs typically provide that the general partner receives a larger portion of the net income as distributions reach higher target levels. As cash flow grows, the general partner receives a greater interest in the incremental income compared to the interest of limited partners. Although the percentages vary among MLPs, the general partner’s marginal interest in distributions generally increases from 2% to 15% at the first designated distribution target level moving up to 25% and ultimately 50% as pre-established distribution per unit thresholds are met. Nevertheless, the aggregate amount distributed to limited partners will increase as MLP distributions reach higher target levels. Given this incentive structure, the general partner has an incentive to streamline operations and undertake acquisitions and growth projects in order to increase distributions to all partners.
The business of certain MLPs is affected by supply and demand for energy commodities because such MLPs derive revenue and income based upon the volume of the underlying commodity produced, transported, processed, distributed, and/or marketed. Pipeline MLPs have indirect commodity exposure to gas and oil price volatility because although they do not own the underlying energy commodity, the general level of commodity prices may affect the volume of the commodity that the MLP delivers to its customers and the cost of providing services such as distributing natural gas liquids. The costs of natural gas pipeline MLPs to perform services may exceed the negotiated rates under “negotiated rate” contracts. Specifically, processing MLPs may be directly affected by energy commodity prices. Propane MLPs own the underlying energy commodity, and therefore have direct exposure to energy commodity prices, although Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (the “Adviser” or “Tortoise Capital”) intends to target high quality MLPs that seek to mitigate or manage direct margin exposure to commodity prices. However, the MLP industry in general could be hurt by market perception that an MLP’s performance and valuation are directly tied to commodity prices.
The Fund may invest in the securities of MLPs, which include:
MLP Common Units. MLP common units represent an equity ownership interest in an MLP, providing limited voting rights and entitling the holder to a share of the company’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. Unlike stockholders of a corporation, common unitholders do not elect directors annually and generally have the right to vote only on certain significant events, such as mergers, a sale of substantially all of the assets, removal of the general partner or material amendments to the partnership agreement. MLPs are required by their partnership agreements to distribute a large percentage of their current operating earnings. Common unitholders generally have first right to a minimum quarterly distribution (“MQD”) prior to distributions to the convertible subordinated unitholders or the general partner (including incentive distributions). Common unitholders typically have arrearage rights if the MQD is not met. In the event of liquidation, MLP common unitholders have first rights to the partnership’s remaining assets after bondholders, other debt holders, and preferred unitholders have been paid in full. MLP common units trade on a national securities exchange or over-the-counter. In addition, like common stock, prices of MLP common units are sensitive to general movements in the stock market and a drop in the stock market may depress the price of MLP common units to which the Fund has exposure. MLP common units may represent an ownership interest, held directly or indirectly, in a limited partnership whose primary assets are general partner interests in an underlying operating MLP.
S-5
Limited Liability Company Common Units. Some pipeline companies in which the Fund may invest have been organized as LLCs. Such LLCs are generally treated in the same manner as MLPs for federal income tax purposes. Consistent with its investment objective and policies, the Fund may invest in common units or other securities of such LLCs. LLC common units represent an equity ownership interest in an LLC, entitling the holders to a share of the LLC’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. Similar to MLPs, LLCs typically do not pay federal income tax at the entity level and are required by their operating agreements to distribute a large percentage of their current operating earnings. LLC common unitholders generally have first right to a MQD prior to distributions to subordinated unitholders and typically have arrearage rights if the MQD is not met. In the event of liquidation, LLC common unitholders have first right to the LLC’s remaining assets after bondholders, other debt holders and preferred unitholders, if any, have been paid in full. LLC common units trade on a national securities exchange or over-the-counter.
In contrast to MLPs, LLCs have no general partner and there are generally no incentives that entitle management or other unitholders to increased percentages of cash distributions as distributions reach higher target levels. In addition, LLC common unitholders typically have voting rights with respect to the LLC, whereas MLP common units have limited voting rights.
MLP Convertible Subordinated Units. MLP convertible subordinated units are typically issued by MLPs to founders, corporate general partners of MLPs, entities that sell assets to the MLP, and institutional investors. The purpose of the convertible subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there will be available cash to be distributed to common unitholders. Convertible subordinated units generally are not entitled to distributions until holders of common units have received specified MQD, plus any arrearages, and may receive less than common unitholders in distributions upon liquidation. Convertible subordinated unitholders generally are entitled to MQD prior to the payment of incentive distributions to the general partner but are not entitled to arrearage rights. Therefore, convertible subordinated units generally entail greater risk than MLP common units. They are generally convertible automatically into the senior common units of the same issuer at a one-to-one ratio upon the passage of time and/or the satisfaction of certain financial tests. These units generally do not trade on a national exchange or over-the-counter, and there is no active market for convertible subordinated units. Although the means by which convertible subordinated units convert into senior common units depend on a security’s specific terms, MLP convertible subordinated units typically are exchanged for common units. The value of a convertible security is a function of its worth if converted into the underlying common units. Convertible subordinated units generally have similar voting rights as MLP common units. Distributions may be paid in cash or in-kind.
Equity Securities of MLP Affiliates. In addition to equity securities of MLPs, the Fund may also invest in equity securities of MLP affiliates. MLP affiliates are issuers of entities that own interests of general partners of MLPs.
S-6
General Partner Interests. Indirect investments in MLP general partner interests are available through investment in the equity securities of MLP affiliates organized as corporations and limited liability companies that own, directly or indirectly, general partner interests. While these general partner interests themselves are generally not publicly traded, the MLP affiliates investing in such interests and in which the Fund may invest are publicly traded. General partner interests often confer direct board participation rights and in many cases, operating control, over the MLP. General partner interests receive cash distributions, typically 2% of the MLP’s aggregate cash distributions, which are contractually defined in the partnership agreement. In addition, holders of general partner interests may hold incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”), which provide them with an increasingly larger share of the aggregate MLP cash distributions upon the payment of distributions to limited partner unitholders that exceed prescribed levels. General partner interests with IDRs may have higher distribution growth prospects than their underlying MLPs, but incentive distribution payments would also decline at a greater rate than the decline rate in distributions to common unitholders in the event of a reduction in the MLP’s distribution.
General partner interests generally cannot be converted into common units. The general partner interest can be redeemed by the MLP if the MLP unitholders choose to remove the general partner, typically with a supermajority vote by limited partner unitholders.
Preferred Equity
Preferred equity represents an ownership interest in a company, often pays dividends at a specific rate and has a preference over common stocks in dividend payments and liquidation of assets. A preferred equity is a blend of the characteristics of a bond and common stock. It can offer the higher yield of a bond and has priority over common stock in equity ownership but does not have the seniority of a bond and, unlike common stock, its participation in the issuer’s growth may be limited. Although the dividend or distribution is set at a fixed annual rate, in some circumstances it can be changed or omitted by the issuer. In addition, preferred equity usually does not have voting rights.
Warrants and Rights
The Fund may purchase, or receive as a distribution from other investments, warrants and rights, which are instruments that permit the Fund to acquire, by subscription, the capital stock of a corporation at a set price, regardless of the market price for such stock. The principal difference between warrants and rights is their term — rights typically expire within weeks while warrants have longer durations. Neither rights nor warrants have voting rights or pay dividends. The market price of warrants is usually significantly less than the current price of the underlying stock. Thus, there is a greater risk that warrants might drop in value at a faster rate than the underlying stock.
S-7
Initial Public Offerings
The Fund may invest in securities offered by companies in initial public offerings (“IPOs”). IPOs involve companies that have no public operating history and therefore entail more risk than established public companies. Because IPO shares frequently are volatile in price, the Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize taxable capital gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. Companies that offer securities in IPOs tend to typically have small market capitalizations and therefore their securities may be more volatile and less liquid that those issued by larger companies. Certain companies offering securities in an IPO may have limited operating experience and, as a result face a greater risk of business failure.
Foreign Investments and Currencies
The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers whether or not they are traded in the United States or U.S. dollar denominated, purchase and sell foreign currency on a spot basis and enter into forward currency contracts (see “Forward Currency Contracts,” below). The Fund may also invest in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and foreign securities that are traded on a U.S. exchange. Investments in ADRs and foreign securities involve certain inherent risks, including the following:
American Depositary Receipts. Among the means through which the Fund may invest in foreign securities that are publicly traded on a U.S. exchange is the purchase of ADRs. ADRs, in registered form, are denominated in U.S. dollars and are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. ADRs may be purchased through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the depositary security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of such facilities, and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts of the deposited securities. Accordingly, available information concerning the issuer may not be current and the prices of unsponsored depositary receipts may be more volatile than the prices of sponsored depositary receipts. For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, ADRs are deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they represent. Thus, an ADR representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.
Political and Economic Factors. Individual foreign economies of certain countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, diversification and balance of payments position. The internal politics of certain foreign countries may not be as stable as those of the United States. Governments in certain foreign countries also continue to participate to a significant degree, through ownership interest or regulation, in their respective economies. Action by these governments could include restrictions on foreign investment, nationalization, expropriation of goods or imposition of taxes, and could have a significant effect on market prices of securities and payment of interest. The economies of many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by the trade policies and economic conditions of their trading partners. Enactment by these trading partners of protectionist trade legislation could have a significant adverse effect upon the securities markets of those countries.
S-8
Currency Fluctuations. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies. Accordingly, a change in the value of any such currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets denominated in that currency. Such changes will also affect the Fund’s income. The value of the Fund’s assets may also be affected significantly by currency restrictions and exchange control regulations enacted from time to time.
Market Characteristics. The Adviser expects that many foreign securities in which the Fund may invest could be purchased in over-the-counter (“OTC”) markets or on exchanges located in the countries in which the principal offices of the issuers of the various securities are located, if that is the best available market. Foreign exchanges and markets may be more volatile than those in the United States. While growing in volume, they usually have substantially less volume than U.S. markets, and the Fund’s investments in foreign securities may be less liquid and more volatile than investments in U.S. securities. Moreover, settlement practices for transactions in foreign markets may differ from those in U.S. markets and may include delays beyond periods customary in the United States. Foreign security trading practices, including those involving securities settlement where Fund assets may be released prior to receipt of payment or securities, may expose the Fund to increased risk in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of a foreign broker-dealer.
Legal and Regulatory Matters. Certain foreign countries may have less supervision of securities markets, brokers and issuers of securities, non-uniform accounting standards and less financial information available from issuers, than is available in the United States. It may be more difficult to obtain and enforce a judgment against a foreign issuer. Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the United States or in other foreign countries. The laws of some foreign countries may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers located in those foreign countries.
Taxes. The interest and dividends payable on certain of the Fund’s foreign portfolio securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, thus reducing the net amount of income available for distribution to Fund shareholders. Foreign issuers may not be subject to auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those which apply to U.S. companies.
Costs. To the extent that the Fund invests in foreign securities, its expense ratio is likely to be higher than those of investment companies investing only in domestic securities, because related brokerage costs and the cost of maintaining the custody of foreign securities may be higher.
Additional Risks of Emerging and Frontier Markets. In addition, the Fund may invest in foreign securities of companies that are located in developing, emerging or frontier markets. Investing in securities of issuers located in these markets may pose greater risks not typically associated with investing in more established markets, such as increased risk of social, political and economic instability. Emerging and frontier market countries typically have smaller securities markets than developed countries and therefore less liquidity and greater price volatility than more developed markets. Securities traded in emerging markets may also be subject to risks associated with the lack of modern technology, poor governmental and/or judicial infrastructures relating to private or foreign investment or to judicial redress for injury to private property, the lack of capital base to expand business operations, foreign taxation and the inexperience of financial intermediaries, custodians and transfer agents. Emerging and frontier market countries are also more likely to impose restrictions on the repatriation of an investor’s assets and even where there is no outright restriction on repatriation, the mechanics of repatriations may delay or impede the Fund’s ability to obtain possession of its assets. As a result, there may be an increased risk or price volatility associated with the Fund’s investments in emerging and frontier market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations.
S-9
Forward Currency Contracts
A forward currency contract (“forward contract”) involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific non-U.S. currency in exchange for another currency, which may be U.S. dollars, at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days(usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at an exchange rate (price) set at the time of the contract. At or before maturity of a forward currency contract, the Fund may either exchange the currencies specified in the contract or terminate its contractual obligation to exchange currencies by purchasing an offsetting contract. If the Fund makes delivery of the foreign currency at or before the settlement of a forward contract, it may be required to obtain the currency by converting assets into the currency. The Fund may close out a forward contract obligating it to exchange currencies by purchasing or selling an offsetting contract, in which case, it will realize again or a loss.
The Fund may enter into forward contracts in order to “lock in” the exchange rate between the currency it will deliver and the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. In addition, the Fund may enter into forward contracts to hedge against risks arising from securities it owns or anticipates purchasing, or the U.S. dollar value of interest and dividends paid on those securities. The Fund does not intend to enter into forward contracts on a regular or continuing basis and the Fund will not enter these contracts for speculative purposes.
Foreign currency transactions involve certain costs and risks. The Fund incurs foreign exchange expenses in converting assets from one currency to another. Forward contracts involve a risk of loss if the Adviser is inaccurate in its prediction of currency movements. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. The precise matching of forward contract amounts, and the value of the securities involved is generally not possible. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional foreign currency if the market value of the security is less than the amount of the foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver under the forward contract and the decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of the foreign currency. The use of forward contracts as a hedging technique does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities the Fund owns or intends to acquire, but it does fix a rate of exchange in advance. Moreover, investors should bear in mind that the Fund is not obligated to actively engage in hedging or other currency transactions. Although forward contracts can reduce the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, they also limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the currencies. There is also the risk that the other party to the transaction may fail to deliver currency when due which may result in a loss to the Fund.
S-10
Under definitions adopted by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and SEC, non-deliverable forwards are considered swaps, and therefore are included in the definition of “commodity interests.” Although non-deliverable forwards have historically been traded in the OTC market, as swaps they may in the future be required to be centrally cleared and traded on public facilities. Forward contracts that qualify as deliverable forwards are not regulated as swaps for most purposes and are not included in the definition of “commodity interests.” However, these forwards are subject to some requirements applicable to swaps, including reporting to swap data repositories, documentation requirements, and business conduct rules applicable to swap dealers. CFTC regulation of currency forwards, especially non-deliverable forwards, may restrict the Fund’s ability to use these instruments in the manner described above or subject the Adviser to CFTC registration and regulation as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”).
Restricted or Thinly Traded Securities
Restricted securities are less liquid than securities traded in the open market, therefore, the Fund may not be able to readily sell such securities. Such securities are unlike securities that are traded in the open market, which can be expected to be sold immediately if the market is adequate. The sale price of securities that are not readily marketable may be lower or higher than the company’s most recent determination of their fair value. In addition, the value of these securities typically requires more reliance on the judgment of the Adviser than that required for securities for which there is an active trading market. Due to the difficulty in valuing these securities and the absence of an active trading market for these securities, the Fund may not be able to realize these securities’ true value or may have to delay their sale in order to do so.
Restricted securities generally can be sold in private transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, or in a registered public offering. If the issuer of the restricted securities has an effective registration statement on file with the SEC covering the restricted securities, the Adviser has the ability to deem restricted securities as liquid. To enable the Fund to sell its holdings of a restricted security not registered under the Securities Act, the Fund may have to cause those securities to be registered. When the Fund must arrange registration because it wishes to sell the security, a considerable period may elapse between the time the decision is made to sell the security and the time the security is registered so that the Fund can sell it. The Fund would bear the risks of any downward price fluctuation during that period.
In recent years, a large institutional market developed for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including private placements, repurchase agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities and corporate bonds and notes. These instruments are often restricted securities because the securities are either themselves exempt from registration or were sold in transactions not requiring registration, such as Rule 144A transactions. Institutional investors generally will not seek to sell these instruments to the general public, but instead will often depend on an efficient institutional market in which such unregistered securities can be resold or on an issuer’s ability to honor a demand for repayment. Therefore, the fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or certain institutions is not dispositive of the liquidity of such investments.
Rule 144A under the Securities Act establishes a “safe harbor” from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resales of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Institutional markets for restricted securities that exist or may develop as a result of Rule 144A may provide both readily ascertainable values for restricted securities and the ability to liquidate an investment. An insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A-eligible securities held by the Fund, however, could affect adversely the marketability of such portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
S-11
The Fund may also invest in securities that may not be restricted but are thinly traded. Although securities of certain energy companies trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), the NYSE American, the NASDAQ National Market or other securities exchanges or markets, such securities may have a trading volume lower than those of larger companies due to their relatively smaller capitalizations. Such securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price during times when the Adviser believes it is desirable to do so. Thinly traded securities are also more difficult to value and the Adviser’s judgment as to value will often be given greater weight than market quotations, if any exist. If market quotations are not available, thinly traded securities will be valued in accordance with procedures established by the Board. Investment of capital in thinly traded securities may restrict our ability to take advantage of market opportunities. The risks associated with thinly traded securities may be particularly acute in situations in which our operations require cash and could result in us borrowing to meet our short term needs or incurring losses on the sale of thinly traded securities.
Illiquid Investments
The Fund may purchase illiquid investments, which may include securities that are not readily marketable and securities that are not registered under the Securities Act. The Fund may not acquire any illiquid investments if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. The term “illiquid investments” for this purpose means any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment, as determined pursuant to the provisions of Rule 22e-4 under the 1940Act. The Fund may not be able to sell illiquid investments when the Adviser considers it desirable to do so or may have to sell such investments at a price that is lower than the price that could be obtained if the investments were more liquid. In addition, the sale of illiquid investments also may require more time and may result in higher dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of investments that are more liquid. Illiquid investments also may be more difficult to value due to the unavailability of reliable market quotations for such investments, and investments in illiquid investments may have an adverse impact on NAV.
Institutional markets for restricted securities have developed as a result of the promulgation of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, which provides a safe harbor from Securities Act registration requirements for qualifying sales to institutional investors. When Rule 144A restricted securities present an attractive investment opportunity and otherwise meet selection criteria, the Fund may make such investments. Whether or not such investments are illiquid depends on the market that exists for the particular investment. It is not possible to predict with assurance exactly how the market for Rule 144A restricted securities or any other security will develop. An investment which when purchased enjoyed a fair degree of marketability may subsequently become illiquid. In such event, appropriate remedies are considered to minimize the effect on the Fund’s liquidity.
S-12
Investment Companies
The Fund may invest in other investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. The Fund generally may purchase or redeem, without limitation, shares of any affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds, including unregistered money market funds, so long as the Fund does not pay a sales load or service fee in connection with the purchase, sale or redemption period. With respect to other investments in investment companies, the 1940 Act generally limits the Fund from acquiring (i) more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of another investment company; (ii) shares of another investment company having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund; or (iii) shares of another registered investment company and all other investment companies having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the Fund.
Investments by the Fund in other investment companies will be subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act (including limitations on sales charges), and the rules and regulations thereunder. By investing in securities of an investment company, the Fund’s shareholders will indirectly bear the fees and expenses of that underlying fund in addition to the Fund’s own fees and expenses.
In October 2020, the SEC adopted regulatory changes related to the ability of an investment company to invest in other investment companies in excess of specified statutory limits. These changes include, among other things, amendments to Rule 12d1-1, the rescission of Rule 12d1-2, the adoption of new Rule 12d1-4, and the rescission of certain exemptive relief issued by the SEC permitting certain fund of funds arrangements. Rule 12d1-4, which became effective on January 19, 2021, permits the Fund to invest in other investment companies, including money market funds, beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions. The rescission of the applicable exemptive orders and the withdrawal of the applicable no-action letters was effective on January 19, 2022. Following this effectiveness, an investment company is no longer able to rely on these exemptive orders and no-action letters and is subject instead to Rule 12d1-4 and other applicable rules under Section 12(d)(1).
Closed-End Funds. Closed-end funds are investment companies that typically issue a fixed number of shares that trade on a securities exchange or OTC. The risks of investment in closed-end funds typically reflect the risk of the types of securities in which the funds invest. Investments in closed-end funds are subject to the additional risk that shares of the fund may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV per share. Closed-end funds come in many varieties and can have different investment objectives, strategies and investment portfolios. They also can be subject to different risks, volatility and fees and expenses. When the Fund invests in shares of a closed-end fund, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the closed-end fund’s fees and expenses, as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses. Although closed-end funds are generally listed and traded on an exchange, the degree of liquidity, or ability to be bought and sold, will vary significantly from one closed-end fund to another based on various factors including, but not limited to, demand in the marketplace.
S-13
Open-End Mutual Funds. Open-end mutual funds are investment companies that issue new shares continuously and redeem shares daily. The risks of investment of open-end mutual funds typically reflect securities in which the funds invest. The NAV per share of an open-end fund will fluctuate daily depending upon the performance of the securities held by the fund. Each open-end fund may have a different investment objective and strategy and different investment portfolio. Different funds may also be subject to different risks, volatility and fees and expenses. Although closed-end funds are generally listed and traded on an exchange, the degree of liquidity, or ability to be bought and sold, will vary significantly from one closed-end fund to another based on various factors including, but not limited to, demand in the marketplace. When the Fund invests in shares of an open-end fund, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the open-end funds’ fees and expenses, as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.
Exchange-Traded Funds. Exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) are typically open-end investment companies that are bought and sold on a national securities exchange. When the Fund invests in an ETF, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities it holds. Many ETFs seek to replicate a specific benchmark index. However, an ETF may not fully replicate the performance of its benchmark index for many reasons, including because of the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting of securities or the number of stocks held. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in an ETF being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities it holds. In addition, because of ETF expenses, compared to owning the underlying securities directly, it may be more costly to own an ETF.
If the Fund invests in shares of an ETF, shareholders will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying ETF in which the Fund invests in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Furthermore, investments in other ETFs could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to shareholders and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by investors in the Fund.
Exchange-Traded Notes
Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETNs”) are senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market benchmark or strategy minus applicable fees. ETNs are traded on an exchange (e.g., the NYSE) during normal trading hours. However, investors can also hold an ETN until maturity. At maturity, the issuer pays to the investor a cash amount equal to the principal amount, subject to the day’s market benchmark or strategy factor. ETNs do not make periodic coupon payments or provide principal protection. ETNs are subject to credit risk and the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, despite the underlying market benchmark or strategy remaining unchanged. The value of an ETN may also be influenced by time to maturity, issuer call options, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying asset. When the Fund invests in ETNs it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. The Fund’s decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market.
S-14
In addition, although an ETN may be listed on an exchange, the issuer may not be required to maintain the listing and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will exist for an ETN. ETNs are also subject to tax risk. No assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will accept, or a court will uphold, how the Fund characterizes and treats ETNs for tax purposes. Further, the IRS and Congress are considering proposals that would change the timing and character of income and gains from ETNs. An ETN that is tied to a specific market benchmark or strategy may not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative weighting of securities, commodities or other components in the applicable market benchmark or strategy. Some ETNs that use leverage can, at times, be relatively illiquid and, thus, they may be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs are subject to the same risk as other instruments that use leverage in any form. The market value of ETN shares may differ from their market benchmark or strategy. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETN shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the securities, commodities or other components underlying the market benchmark or strategy that the ETN seeks to track. As a result, there may be times when an ETN share trades at a premium or discount to its market benchmark or strategy.
Options, Futures and Other Strategies
General. The Fund may use options (both traded on an exchange and OTC), futures contracts (sometimes referred to as “futures”), swaps, caps, floors, collars, structured or synthetic financial instruments, forward agreements, and other derivative securities (collectively, “Financial Instruments”) as a substitute for a comparable market position in the underlying security, to attempt to hedge or limit the exposure of a particular portfolio security, to create a synthetic position, for certain tax-related purposes, to close out previously established derivatives such as options, forward and futures positions, to reduce volatility, to enhance income, and/or to gain market exposure. These can also be used as speculative instruments. In addition to the other limitations described herein, the Fund’s ability to use Financial Instruments may be limited by tax considerations.
The use of Financial Instruments is subject to applicable regulations of the SEC, the several exchanges upon which they are traded and the CFTC. In addition to the instruments, strategies and risks described below, the Adviser may discover additional opportunities in connection with Financial Instruments and other similar or related techniques. These new opportunities may become available as the Adviser develops new investment techniques, as regulatory authorities broaden the range of permitted transactions and as new Financial Instruments or other techniques are developed. The Adviser may utilize these opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and permitted by the Fund’s investment limitations and applicable regulatory authorities. The Prospectus or this SAI will be supplemented to the extent that new products or techniques involve materially different risks than those described below.
Exclusion of Adviser from Commodity Pool Operator Definition. An exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) and the rules of the CFTC has been claimed with respect to the Fund.
S-15
The terms of the CPO exclusion require the Fund, among other things, to adhere to certain limits on its investments in “commodity interests.” Commodity interests include commodity futures, commodity options and swaps, which in turn include non-deliverable currency forward contracts, as further described below. Because the Adviser and the Fund intend to comply with the terms of the CPO exclusion, as necessary, the Fund may, in the future, need to adjust its investment strategies, consistent with its investment goal, to limit its investments in these types of instruments.
The Fund is not intended as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps markets. The CFTC has neither reviewed nor approved the Fund’s and the Adviser’s reliance on this exclusion and exemption, respectively, or the Fund, its investment strategies, the Prospectus or this SAI.
Generally, the exclusion from CPO regulation requires the Fund to meet one of the following tests for its commodity interest positions, other than positions entered into for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined in the rules of the CFTC): either (1) the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish the Fund’s positions in commodity interests may not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions); or (2) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund’s commodity interest positions, determined at the time the most recent such position was established, may not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of these trading limitations, the Fund may not be marketed as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps markets. If, in the future, the Fund can no longer satisfy these requirements, the notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of a CPO would be withdrawn, and the Adviser would be subject to registration and regulation as a CPO with respect to the Fund, in accordance with CFTC rules that apply to CPOs of registered investment companies. Generally, these rules allow for substituted compliance with CFTC disclosure and shareholder reporting requirements, based on the Adviser’s compliance with comparable SEC requirements. However, as a result of CFTC regulation with respect to the Fund, the Fund may incur additional compliance and other expenses.
Special Risks. The use of Financial Instruments involves special considerations and risks, certain of which are described below. Risks pertaining to particular Financial Instruments are described in the sections that follow.
1. Certain Financial Instruments may have a leveraging effect on the Fund, and adverse changes in the value of the underlying security, index, interest rate, currency or other or measure can result in losses substantially greater than the amount invested in the Financial Instrument itself. When the Fund engages in transactions that have a leveraging effect, the value of the Fund is likely to be more volatile and all other risks are also likely to be compounded. This is because leverage generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of an asset and creates investment risk with respect to a larger pool of assets than the Fund would otherwise have. Certain Financial Instruments have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.
S-16
2. Certain Financial Instrument transactions, including certain options, swaps, forward contracts, and certain options on foreign currencies, are entered into directly by the counterparties and/or through financial institutions acting as market makers (“OTC derivatives”), rather than being traded on exchanges or in markets registered with the CFTC or the SEC. Many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available to participants in OTC derivatives transactions. For example, OTC derivatives transactions are not subject to the guarantee of an exchange, and only OTC derivatives that are either required to be cleared or submitted voluntarily for clearing to a clearinghouse will enjoy the protections that central clearing provides against default by the original counterparty to the trade. In an OTC derivatives transaction that is not cleared, the Fund bears the risk of default by its counterparty. In a cleared derivatives transaction, the Fund is instead exposed to the risk of default of the clearinghouse and the risk of default of the broker through which it has entered into the transaction. Information available on counterparty creditworthiness may be incomplete or outdated, thus reducing the ability to anticipate counterparty defaults.
3. Options and futures prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments. Options and futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect or no correlation also may result from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and futures and securities are traded, and from the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts.
4. As described below, the Fund might be required to maintain assets as “cover,” maintain segregated accounts or make margin payments when it takes positions in Financial Instruments involving obligations to third parties (e.g., Financial Instruments other than purchased options). If the Fund is unable to close out its positions in such Financial Instruments, they might be required to continue to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position expires or matures. These requirements might impair the Fund’s ability to sell a portfolio security or make an investment when it would otherwise be favorable to do so or require that the Fund sells a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time. The Fund’s ability to close out a position in a Financial Instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the existence of a liquid secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and willingness of the other party to the transaction (the “counter-party”) to enter into a transaction closing out the position. Therefore, there is no assurance that any position can be closed out at a time and price that is favorable to the Fund.
5. Losses may arise due to unanticipated market price movements, lack of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at a particular time or due to losses from premiums paid by the Fund on options transactions.
Options. The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the current market value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until expiration, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying investment and general market conditions. Options that expire unexercised have no value. Options currently are traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE”), the NYSE American and other exchanges, as well as the OTC markets.
S-17
By buying a call option on a security, the Fund has the right, in return for the premium paid, to buy the security underlying the option at the exercise price. By writing (selling) a call option and receiving a premium, the Fund becomes obligated during the term of the option to deliver securities underlying the option at the exercise price if the option is exercised. The Fund will only write call options on securities it holds in their portfolios (i.e., covered calls). By buying a put option, the Fund has the right, in return for the premium, to sell the security underlying the option at the exercise price. By writing a put option and receiving a premium, the Fund becomes obligated during the term of the option to purchase the securities underlying the option at the exercise price.
Because options premiums paid or received by the Fund are small in relation to the market value of the investments underlying the options, buying and selling put and call options can be more speculative than investing directly in securities.
The Fund may effectively terminate its right or obligation under an option by entering into a closing transaction. For example, the Fund may terminate an obligation under a call option or put option that it has written by purchasing an identical call option or put option. This is known as a closing purchase transaction. Conversely, the Fund may terminate a position in a put or call option it had purchased by writing an identical put or call option. This is known as a closing sale transaction. Closing transactions permit the Fund to realize profits or limit losses on an option position prior to its exercise or expiration.
Interest Rate Options. Interest rate options, including interest rate caps and interest rate floors, which can be combined to form interest rate collars, are contracts that entitle the purchaser to pay or receive the amounts, if any, by which a specified market rate exceeds a cap strike interest rate, or falls below a floor strike interest rate, respectively, at specified dates. The Fund may use interest rate options to hedge against anticipated and non-anticipated changes in interest rates on a portfolio wide basis or versus individual securities which may also have interest rate options embedded within the security.
OTC Options. Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size and strike price, the terms of OTC options (options not traded on exchanges) generally are established through negotiation with the other party to the option contract. While this type of arrangement allows the Fund great flexibility to tailor the option to its needs, OTC options generally involve greater risk than exchange-traded options, which are guaranteed by the clearing organization of the exchanges where they are traded.
Interest Rate Futures Contracts and Options on Interest Rate Futures Contracts. Bond prices are established in both the cash market and the futures market. In the cash market, bonds are purchased and sold with payment for the full purchase price of the bond being made in cash, generally within five business days after the trade. In the futures market, a contract is made to purchase or sell a bond in the future for a set price on a certain date. Historically, the prices for bonds established in the futures markets have tended to move generally in the aggregate in concert with the cash market prices and have maintained fairly predictable relationships. Accordingly, the Fund may use interest rate futures contracts as a defense, or hedge, against anticipated interest rate changes. The Fund presently could accomplish a similar result to that which it hopes to achieve through the use of interest rate futures contracts by selling bonds with long maturities and investing in bonds with short maturities when interest rates are expected to increase, or conversely, selling bonds with short maturities and investing in bonds with long maturities when interest rates are expected to decline. However, because of the liquidity that is often available in the futures market, the protection is more likely to be achieved, perhaps at a lower cost and without changing the rate of interest being earned by the Fund, through using futures contracts.
S-18
Interest rate futures contracts are traded in an auction environment on the floors of several exchanges and must be executed through a futures commission merchant (“FCM”), which is a brokerage firm that is a member of the relevant contract market. Each exchange guarantees performance under contract provisions through a clearing corporation, a nonprofit organization managed by the exchange membership. A public market exists in futures contracts covering various financial instruments including long-term U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes; GNMA modified pass-through mortgage-backed securities; three-month U.S. Treasury Bills; and ninety-day commercial paper. The Fund may also invest in exchange-traded Eurodollar contracts, which are interest rate futures on the forward level of LIBOR or an equivalent. These contracts are generally considered liquid securities and trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Such Eurodollar contracts are generally used to “lock-in” or hedge the future level of short-term rates. The Fund may trade in any interest rate futures contracts for which there exists a public market, including, without limitation, the foregoing instruments.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. A futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take delivery of) the specified security on the expiration date of the contract. An index futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying securities in the index is made.
When the Fund writes an option on a futures contract, it becomes obligated, in return for the premium received, to assume a position in the futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. If the Fund writes a call, it assumes a short futures position. If the Fund writes a put, it assumes a long futures position. When the Fund purchases an option on a futures contract, it acquires the right in return for the premium it pays to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put).
Whether the Fund realizes a gain or loss from futures activities depends upon movements in the underlying security or index. The extent of the Fund’s loss from an unhedged short position in futures contracts or from writing unhedged call options on futures contracts is potentially unlimited. The Fund only purchases and sells futures contracts and options on futures contracts that are traded on a U.S. exchange or board of trade.
No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, at the inception of a futures contract the Fund is required to deposit “initial margin” that is typically calculated as an amount equal to the volatility in the market value of a contract over a fixed period. Margin also must be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules. Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin does not represent a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by an exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.
S-19
Subsequent “variation margin” payments are made to and from the futures commission merchant daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as “marking-to-market.” Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but rather represents a daily settlement of the Fund’s obligations to or from a futures commission merchant. When the Fund purchases an option on a futures contract, the premium paid plus transaction costs is all that is at risk. In contrast, when the Fund purchases or sell a futures contract or writes a call or put option thereon, it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements. If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous.
Purchasers and sellers of futures contracts and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions in options, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold. Positions in futures and options on futures contracts may be closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular contract at a particular time. In such event, it may not be possible to close a futures contract or options position.
Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or an option on a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price. Once that limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. Daily price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.
If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract or an option on a futures position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses. The Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to maintain cash or liquid assets in an account.
Risks of Futures Contracts and Options Thereon. The Fund’s use of futures contracts is subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments generally. In addition, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses to the Fund in excess of the amount the Fund delivered as initial margin. Because of the relatively low margin deposits required, futures trading involves a high degree of leverage; as a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss, or gain, to the Fund.
S-20
There is a risk of loss by the Fund of its initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the futures commission merchant (“FCM”) with which the Fund has an open position in a futures contract. The assets of the Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central counterparty because the Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds and margin segregated on behalf of an FCM’s customers. If the FCM does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund’s assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM’s other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another customer.
Options on futures contracts trade on the same contract markets as the underlying futures contracts. The writer (seller) of an option on a futures contract becomes contractually obligated to take the opposite futures position if the buyer of the option exercises its rights to the futures position specified in the option. The Fund’s use of options on futures contracts is subject to the risks related to derivative instruments generally. In addition, the amount of risk the Fund assumes when it purchases an option on a futures contract is the premium paid for the option plus related transaction costs. The purchase of an option also entails the risk that changes in the value of the underlying futures contract will not be fully reflected in the value of the option purchased.
The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets (including the options on futures markets), due to differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to the following factors, which may create distortions. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal relationships between the cash and futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortion. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may cause temporary price distortions.
Combined Positions. The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other. For example, the Fund may purchase a put option and write a call option on the same underlying instrument in order to construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
Swaps Generally. The Fund may enter into swap contracts. Generally, swap agreements are contracts between the Fund and another party (the swap counterparty) involving the exchange of payments on specified terms over periods ranging from a few days to multiple years. A swap agreement may be negotiated bilaterally and traded OTC between the two parties (for an uncleared swap) or, in some instances, must be transacted through an FCM and cleared through a clearinghouse that serves as a central counterparty (for a cleared swap). The notional amount is the set dollar or other value selected by the parties to use as the basis on which to calculate the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. The parties typically do not actually exchange the notional amount. Instead they agree to exchange the returns that would be earned or realized if the notional amount were invested in given investments or at given rates.
S-21
Certain standardized swaps are subject to mandatory central clearing and exchange trading. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and related regulatory developments will ultimately require the clearing and exchange-trading of many OTC derivative instruments that the CFTC and the SEC recently defined as “swaps,” including non-deliverable foreign exchange forwards, OTC foreign exchange options, and swaptions. Mandatory exchange-trading and clearing will take place on a phased-in basis based on the type of market participant, CFTC approval of contracts for central clearing, and public trading facilities making such cleared swaps available to trade. To date, the CFTC has designated only certain of the most common types of credit default index swaps and interest rate swaps as subject to mandatory clearing and certain public trading facilities have made certain of those cleared swaps available to trade, but it is expected that additional categories of swaps will in the future be designated as subject to mandatory clearing and trade execution requirements. Central clearing is intended to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity, but central clearing does not eliminate these risks and may involve additional costs and risks not involved with uncleared swaps.
Interest Rate Swaps. The Fund may enter into interest rate swap contracts. Interest rate swap contracts are contracts in which each party agrees to make a periodic interest payment based on an index or the value of an asset in return for a periodic payment from the other party based on a different index or asset. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index rises above a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. Like a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.
Credit Default Swaps. The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements. The credit default swap agreement may have as a reference obligation one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund. The buyer in a credit default swap agreement is obligated to pay the seller a periodic fee, typically expressed in basis points on the principal amount of the underlying obligation (otherwise known as the notional amount), over the term of the agreement in return for a contingent payment upon the occurrence of a credit event with respect to the underlying reference obligation. A credit event is typically a default, restructuring or bankruptcy.
The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. As a seller, the Fund receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the agreement, which typically is between one month and five years, provided that no credit event occurs. If a credit event occurs, the Fund typically must pay the contingent payment to the buyer, which is typically the par value (full notional value) of the reference obligation. The contingent payment may be a cash settlement or by physical delivery of the reference obligation in return for payment of the face amount of the obligation. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may lose its investment and recover nothing. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer typically receives full notional value for a reference obligation that may have little or no value.
S-22
Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. If the Fund is a buyer in a credit default swap agreement and no credit event occurs, then it will lose its investment. In addition, the value of the reference obligation received by the Fund as a seller if a credit event occurs, coupled with the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the Fund.
Currency Swaps. In order to protect against currency fluctuations, the Fund may enter into currency swaps. The Fund may also hedge portfolio positions through currency swaps, which are transactions in which one currency is simultaneously bought for a second currency on a spot basis and sold for the second currency on a forward basis. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the rights of the Fund and another party to make or receive payments in specified currencies. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Because currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations.
Comprehensive Swaps Regulation. The Dodd-Frank Act and related regulatory developments have imposed comprehensive regulatory requirements on swaps and swap market participants. The regulatory framework includes: (1) registration and regulation of swap dealers and major swap participants; (2) requiring central clearing and execution of standardized swaps; (3) imposing margin requirements on swap transactions; (4) regulating and monitoring swap transactions through position limits and large trader reporting requirements; and (5) imposing record keeping and centralized and public reporting requirements, on an anonymous basis, for most swaps. The CFTC is responsible for the regulation of most swaps. The SEC has jurisdiction over a small segment of the market referred to as “security-based swaps,” which includes swaps on single securities or credits, or narrow-based indices of securities or credits.
Risks of Swaps. The Fund’s use of swaps is subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments generally. In addition, because uncleared swaps are typically executed bilaterally with a swap dealer rather than traded on exchanges, uncleared swap participants may not be as protected as participants on organized exchanges. Performance of an uncleared swap agreement is the responsibility only of the swap counterparty and not of any exchange or clearinghouse. As a result, the Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will be unable or will refuse to perform under such agreement, including because of the counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency.
As noted above, under recent financial reforms, certain types of swaps are, and others eventually are expected to be, required to be cleared through a central counterparty, which may affect counterparty risk and other risks faced by the Fund. Central clearing is designed to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity compared to uncleared swaps because central clearing interposes the central clearinghouse as the counterparty to each participant’s swap, but it does not eliminate those risks completely and may involve additional costs and risks not involved with uncleared swaps. The Fund is also subject to the risk that, after entering into a cleared swap with an executing broker, no FCM or central counterparty is willing or able to clear the transaction. In such an event, the Fund may be required to break the trade and make an early termination payment to the executing broker.
S-23
With respect to cleared swaps, there is also a risk of loss by the Fund of its initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the Fund has an open position or the central counterparty in a swap contract. The assets of the Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central counterparty because the Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds and margin segregated on behalf of an FCM’s customers. If the FCM does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund’s assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM’s other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another customer to the central counterparty. Credit risk of cleared swap participants is concentrated in a few clearinghouses, and the consequences of insolvency of a clearinghouse are not clear.
Risks of Potential Government Regulation of Derivatives. It is possible that additional government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures, options, and swap contracts, may limit or prevent the Fund from using such instruments as part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment objective. It is impossible to fully predict the effects of past, present or future legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse. It is possible that legislative and regulatory activity could limit or restrict the ability of the Fund to use certain instruments as part of its investment strategy. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the Fund engages in derivative transactions could also prevent the Fund from using certain instruments.
There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in the Fund or the ability of the Fund to continue to implement its investment strategies. The futures, options, and swaps markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. In addition, the SEC, the CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits, and the suspension of trading. The regulation of futures, options, and swaps transactions in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government action.
New and developing regulation may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective either through limits or requirements imposed on it or upon its counterparties. In particular, any new position limits imposed on the Fund or its counterparties may impact the Fund’s ability to invest in futures, options, and swaps in a manner that efficiently meets its investment objective. New requirements, even if not directly applicable to the Fund, including capital requirements and mandatory clearing, may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors.
S-24
Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governs the way funds must comply with the asset segregation and coverage requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act with respect to derivatives and certain other financing transactions. Funds that are subject to the rule are required to adopt and implement a written derivatives risk management program and quantitatively limit their use of derivatives based on the estimated potential risk of loss that the funds incur from their derivatives transactions. Funds that limit derivatives exposure to 10% of net assets are exempt from many of the requirements of Rule 18f-4 but must still adopt and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage the fund’s derivatives risks.
Interest Rate Floors, Caps, and Collars. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. An interest rate collar is the combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates.
Cash Investments
The Fund may invest in high-quality, short-term debt securities and money market instruments (“Cash Investments”) for (i) temporary defensive purposes in response to adverse market, economic, or political conditions and (ii) retaining flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses, and identifying and assessing investment opportunities. Cash Investments include shares of other mutual funds, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, time deposits, savings association obligations, commercial paper, short-term notes (including discount notes), and other obligations.
The Fund may hold a substantial position in Cash Investments for long periods of time, which may result in the Fund not achieving its investment objective. If the market advances during periods when the Fund is holding a large Cash Investment, the Fund may not participate to the extent it would have if the Fund had been more fully invested, and this may result in the Fund not achieving its investment objective during that period. To the extent that the Fund uses a money market fund for its Cash Investment, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such money market fund’s advisory fees and operational expenses.
Cash Investments are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk, although to a lesser extent than longer-term debt securities due to Cash Investments’ short-term, significant liquidity, and typical high credit quality.
The Fund may invest in any of the following:
Money Market Mutual Funds. Generally, money market mutual funds seek to earn income consistent with the preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity. They primarily invest in high quality money market obligations, including U.S. government obligations, bank obligations and high-grade corporate instruments. These investments generally mature within 397 days from the date of purchase. An investment in a money market mutual fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency.
S-25
To the extent that the Fund invests in money market mutual funds, your cost of investing in the Fund will generally be higher because you will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying money market mutual funds in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. Furthermore, investing in money market mutual funds could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to you and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by you.
Bank Certificates of Deposit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Time Deposits. The Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against monies deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning in effect that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances acquired by the Fund will be dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign banks or financial institutions which at the time of purchase have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million (including assets of both domestic and foreign branches), based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such bank obligations are fully insured by the U.S. government.
In addition to purchasing certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, to the extent permitted under the investment objective and policies stated above and in the Prospectus, the Fund may make interest-bearing time or other interest-bearing deposits in commercial or savings banks. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate.
Commercial Paper, Short-Term Notes and Other Corporate Obligations. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in commercial paper, short-term notes, and other corporate obligations. Commercial paper consists of un secured promissory notes issued by corporations. Issues of commercial paper and short-term notes will normally have maturities of less than nine months and fixed rates of return, although such instruments may have maturities of up to one year.
Commercial paper and short-term notes will consist of issues rated at the time of purchase “A-2” or higher by S&P, “Prime-1” or “Prime-2” by Moody’s, or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.
Corporate obligations include bonds and notes issued by corporations to finance longer-term credit needs than supported by commercial paper. While such obligations generally have maturities of ten years or more, the Fund may purchase corporate obligations which have remaining maturities of one year or less from the date of purchase and which are rated “A” or higher by S&P, “A” or higher by Moody’s, similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.
S-26
U.S. Government Obligations. The Fund may invest in U.S. government obligations. U.S. government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government securities, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis. U.S. government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises.
Payment of principal and interest on U.S. government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities, including government-sponsored enterprises, where it is not obligated to do so (see “Agency Obligations,” below). In addition, U.S. government obligations are subject to fluctuations in market value due to fluctuations in market interest rates. As a general matter, the value of debt instruments, including U.S. government obligations, declines when market interest rates increase and rises when market interest rates decrease. Certain types of U.S. government obligations are subject to fluctuations in yield or value due to their structure or contract terms.
Agency Obligations
The Fund may invest in agency obligations, such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Tennessee Valley Authority, Resolution Funding Corporation, Farmers Home Administration, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), commonly known as “Ginnie Mae,” Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), commonly known as “Fannie Mae,” Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), commonly known as “Freddie Mac,” and the Student Loan Marketing Association (“SLMA”), commonly known as “Sallie Mae.” Some, such as those of the Export-Import Bank of United States, are supported only by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others, such as those of the FNMA and FHLMC, are supported by only the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations; still others, such as those of the SLMA, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities because they are not obligated by law to do so. As a result, there is a risk that these entities will default on a financial obligation. For instance, in September 2008, at the direction of the U.S. Treasury, FNMA and FHLMC were placed into conservatorship under the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), a newly created independent regulator.
S-27
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. Under such agreements, the Fund agrees to purchase U.S. government obligations from a counterparty and the counterparty agrees to repurchase the securities at a mutually agreed upon time and price. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to the Fund together with the repurchase price on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the security itself. Such repurchase agreements will be made only with banks with assets of $500 million or more that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or with government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Board and registered as broker-dealers with the SEC or exempt from such registration. The Fund will generally enter into repurchase agreements of short durations, from overnight to one week, although the underlying securities generally have longer maturities. The Fund may not enter into a repurchase agreement with more than seven days to maturity if, as a result, more than 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets would be invested in illiquid investments including such repurchase agreements. To the extent necessary to facilitate compliance with Section 12(d)(3) of the 1940 Act and Rule 12d3-1 promulgated thereunder, the Fund will ensure that repurchase agreements will be collateralized fully to the extent required by Rule 5b-3.
For purposes of the 1940 Act, a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan from the Fund to the seller of the U.S. government obligations that are subject to the repurchase agreement. It is not clear whether a court would consider the U.S. government obligations to be acquired by the Fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by the Fund or as being collateral for a loan by the Fund to the seller. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the U.S. government obligations before its repurchase under a repurchase agreement, the Fund could encounter delays and incur costs before being able to sell the underlying U.S. government obligations. Delays may involve loss of interest or a decline in price of the U.S. government obligations. If a court characterizes the transaction as a loan and the Fund has not perfected a security interest in the U.S. government obligations, the Fund may be required to return the securities to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, the Fund would be at the risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. As with any unsecured debt instrument purchased for the Fund, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the other party, in this case the seller of the U.S. government security.
Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the U.S. government obligations. However, the Fund will always receive as collateral for any repurchase agreement to which it is a party, securities acceptable to the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, the market value of which is equal to at least 100% of the repurchase price, and the Fund will make payment against such securities only upon physical delivery or evidence of book entry transfer to the account of its Custodian. If the market value of the U.S. government obligations subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including interest), the Fund will direct the seller of the U.S. government obligations to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price. It is possible that the Fund could be unsuccessful in seeking to enforce on the seller a contractual obligation to deliver additional securities.
S-28
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements for temporary purposes with banks and securities dealers if the creditworthiness of the bank or securities dealer has been determined by the Adviser, or the Sub-Adviser, to be satisfactory. A reverse repurchase agreement is a repurchase agreement in which the Fund is the seller of, rather than the investor in, securities and agrees to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price. Use of a reverse repurchase agreement may be preferable to a regular sale and later repurchase of securities because it avoids certain market risks and transaction costs.
Reverse repurchase agreements are considered a form of borrowing and are therefore limited to up to one-third of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings). The use of reverse repurchase agreements by the Fund creates leverage which increases its investment risk. If the income and gains on securities purchased with the proceeds of these transactions exceed the cost, the Fund’s earnings or NAV will increase faster than otherwise would be the case; conversely, if the income and gains fail to exceed the cost, earnings or NAV would decline faster than otherwise would be the case. The Fund intends to enter into reverse repurchase agreements only if the income from the investment of the proceeds is expected to be greater than the expense of the transaction, because the proceeds are invested for a period no longer than the term of the reverse repurchase agreement.
Securities Lending
The Fund may lend securities to parties such as broker-dealers or institutional investors. Securities lending allows the Fund to retain ownership of the securities loaned and, at the same time, to earn additional income. Since there may be delays in the recovery of loaned securities, or even a loss of rights in collateral supplied should the borrower fail financially, loans will be made only to parties deemed by the Adviser to be of good credit and legal standing. Furthermore, loans of securities will only be made if, in the Adviser’s judgment, the consideration to be earned from such loans would justify the risk.
The Adviser understands that it is the current view of the SEC staff that the Fund may engage in loan transactions only under the following conditions: (1) the Fund must receive 100% collateral in the form of cash or cash equivalents (e.g., U.S. Treasury bills or notes) from the borrower; (2) the borrower must increase the collateral whenever the market value of the securities loaned (determined on a daily basis) rises above the value of the collateral; (3) after giving notice, the Fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan or a flat fee from the borrower, as well as amounts equivalent to any dividends, interest, or other distributions on the securities loaned and to any increase in market value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees in connection with the loan; and (6) the Board must be able to vote proxies on the securities loaned, either by terminating the loan or by entering into an alternative arrangement with the borrower.
Borrowing
The Fund may borrow money from banks in amounts of up to one-third of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings). Any such borrowing that comes to exceed this amount will be reduced within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the one-third limitation.
S-29
In addition, the Fund is authorized to borrow money from time to time for temporary, extraordinary or emergency purposes, including addressing liquidity concerns or meeting redemption requests, or for clearance of transactions. The use of borrowing by the Fund involves special risk considerations that may not be associated with other funds having similar objectives and policies. Because substantially all of the Fund’s assets fluctuate in value, while the interest obligation resulting from a borrowing will be fixed by the terms of the Fund’s agreement with its lender, the NAV per share of the Fund will tend to increase more when its portfolio securities increase in value and to decrease more when its portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case if the Fund did not borrow funds. In addition, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the return earned on borrowed funds. Under adverse market conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.
Cybersecurity Risk
The Fund, like all companies, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks. Cybersecurity failures or breaches of the Fund or its service providers or the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.
Fundamental and Non-Fundamental Investment Limitations
This section supplements the disclosure in the Prospectus and provides additional information on the Fund’s investment limitations. Investment limitations identified as fundamental may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities (which for this purpose and under the 1940 Act, means the lesser of (1) 67% of the voting shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares are represented or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares).
Investment limitations stated as a maximum percentage of the Fund’s assets are only applied immediately after, and because of, an investment or a transaction by us to which the limitation is applicable (other than the limitations on borrowing). Accordingly, any later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered in determining whether the investment complies with our investment limitations. All limitations with respect to nonfundamental investment policies that are based on a percentage of total assets include assets obtained or expected to be obtained through leverage.
S-30
Fundamental Investment Limitations
Except with the approval of a majority of its outstanding voting securities, the Fund may not:
1. Concentrate its investments in an industry or group of industries (i.e., hold 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of companies in a particular industry or group of industries), except to the extent that the Fund’s Underlying Index concentrates in a particular industry or group of industries.
2. Borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
3. Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
4. Purchase or sell physical commodities except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund.
5. Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
6. Purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may purchase marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including REITs).
For purposes of limitation number one (1), securities of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities and tax-exempt securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.
The Underlying Index is concentrated in the one or more industries comprising the energy infrastructure sector.
Nonfundamental Investment Policies
In addition to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies as set forth above, the Fund observes the following non-fundamental restriction, which may be changed without a shareholder vote.
1. The Fund will not invest less than 80% of its total assets (excluding securities lending collateral) in securities that comprise its Underlying Index.
S-31
Percentage Limitations
If a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment or contract, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or total or net assets will not result in a violation of such restriction, except that the percentage limitations with respect to the borrowing of money and illiquid investments will be observed continuously. If the percentage of the Fund’s net assets invested in illiquid investments exceeds 15% due to market activity or changes in the Fund’s portfolio, the Fund will take appropriate measures to reduce its holdings of illiquid investments in accordance with the 1940 Act and the Fund’s policies and procedures.
The following descriptions of certain provisions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:
Concentration. The SEC has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets in an industry or group of industries, with certain exceptions.
Borrowing. The 1940 Act presently allows the Fund to borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (not including temporary borrowings up to 5% of its total assets).
Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by the Fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits the Fund from issuing senior securities, although Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act provides an exemption from the applicable prohibitions and restrictions on issuing senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments.
Lending. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies. The Fund’s current investment policy on lending is that the Fund may not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) engage in securities lending as described in this SAI.
Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves the Fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly.
Real Estate. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict the Fund’s ability to invest in real estate, but does require every investment company to have the fundamental investment policy governing such investments. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may purchase marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including REITs).
Commodities. The Fund will not purchase or sell physical commodities or commodities contracts, except that the Fund may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in commodities or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.
S-32
Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in the Fund’s portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to above-average transaction costs and could generate capital gains that must be distributed to shareholders as short-term capital gains (taxed at ordinary federal income tax rates that for individuals are currently as high as 37%) or long-term capital gains (generally taxed to individuals at federal income tax rates that are currently as high as 20%). To the extent that the Fund experiences an increase in brokerage commissions due to a higher portfolio turnover rate, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by the increased expenses incurred and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.
Portfolio Holdings Information
The Trust has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings. The Board of Trustees must approve all material amendments to this policy. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services, including publicly accessible Internet websites. In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and share quantities to deliver in exchange for Fund shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, is publicly disseminated each day the Exchange is open for trading via the NSCC. Pursuant to Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act, information regarding the Fund’s current portfolio holdings will be available on a daily basis at https://www.tortoiseadvisors.com/. The Trust will not disseminate nonpublic information concerning the Trust. In no event shall the Adviser, its affiliates or employees, or the Fund receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
There can be no assurance that the Portfolio Holdings Policies and these procedures will protect the Fund from potential misuse of that information by individuals or entities to which it is disclosed.
Board of Trustees
The management and affairs of the Fund is overseen by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees consists of five individuals. The Board of Trustees establishes policies for the operation of the Fund and appoints the officers who conduct the daily business of the Fund.
S-33
The Role of the Board of Trustees
The Board provides oversight of the management and operations of the Trust. The day-to-day responsibility for the management and operation of the Trust is the responsibility of various service providers to the Trust and its individual series, such as the Adviser; Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Fund’s principal underwriter (the “Distributor”); U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, the Fund’s administrator (the “Administrator”) and transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”); and U.S. Bank, National Association, the Fund’s Custodian, each of whom are discussed in greater detail in this SAI. The Board approves all significant agreements between the Trust and its service providers, including the agreements with the Adviser, Distributor, Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. The Board has appointed various individuals as officers of the Trust, with responsibility to monitor and report to the Board on the Trust’s day-to-day operations. In conducting this oversight, the Board receives regular reports from these officers and service providers regarding the Trust’s operations. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) who reports directly to the Board and who administers the Trust’s compliance program and regularly reports to the Board as to compliance matters, including an annual compliance review. Some of these reports are provided as part of formal Board meetings, which are held four times per year, and such other times as the Board determines is necessary, and involve the Board’s review of recent Trust operations. From time to time one or more members of the Board may also meet with Trust officers in less formal settings, between formal Board meetings to discuss various topics. In all cases, however, the role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Trust and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Trust’s investments, operations or activities.
Board Leadership Structure
The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to effectively perform its oversight function. The Board is comprised of four Trustees that are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), and one “interested trustee.” The Board has established three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating & Governance Committee and a Distribution & Brokerage Committee, which are discussed in greater detail under “Board Committees” below. Each Committee is comprised of all the Independent Trustees.
The Board has appointed Tom Florence as Chairman and Andrew J. Iseman as Lead Independent Trustee.
In accordance with the fund governance standards prescribed by the SEC under the 1940 Act, the Independent Trustees on the Nominating & Governance Committee select and nominate all candidates for Independent Trustee positions. Each Trustee was elected to serve on the Board because of his or her experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as set forth in the subsection “Trustee Qualifications” below.
The Board reviews its structure regularly in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust, including: the affiliated or unaffiliated nature of each investment adviser; the number of funds that comprise the Trust; the variety of asset classes that those funds reflect; the net assets of the Trust; the committee structure of the Trust; and the independent distribution arrangements of each of the Trust’s series.
The Board has determined that the inclusion of all Independent Trustees as members of each Committee allows all such Trustees to participate in the full range of the Board’s oversight duties, including oversight of risk management processes discussed below. Given the composition of the Board and the function and composition of its various committees as described above, the Trust has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate.
S-34
Board Oversight of Risk Management
As part of its oversight function, the Board receives and reviews various risk management reports and assessments and discusses these matters with appropriate management and other personnel, including personnel of the Trust’s service providers. Because risk management is a broad concept comprised of many elements (such as, for example, investment risk, issuer and counter-party risk, compliance risk, operational risk, business continuity risk, etc.) the oversight of different types of risks is handled in different ways. For example, the CCO regularly reports to the Board during Board meetings and meets in executive session with the Independent Trustees to discuss compliance and operational risks. In addition, Carrie Ramirez Schoffman, the Independent Trustee designated as the Audit Committee’s “audit committee financial expert,” meets with the Principal Financial Officer and the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the internal control structure of the Fund’s financial reporting function. The full Board receives reports from the investment advisers to the underlying series as to investment risks.
Trustees and Officers
The Trustees and officers of the Trust are listed below with their addresses, present positions with the Trust and principal occupations over at least the last five years.
Name and Age1 |
Position(s)
Held With Trust, Term of Office and Length of Time Served |
Principal
Occupation During Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held |
Independent Trustees | ||||
Carrie
Ramirez Schoffman (1973) |
Trustee; Indefinite; Since October 2024 | Owner, CPA Concierge Services, LLC (since 2020); Tax Accountant, Bree Beers & Associates, PC (2017-2021); Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer, ICON Funds (2013-2017); Chief Compliance Officer, ICON Funds (2004-2017); Chief Compliance Officer, Senior Vice President, ICON Advisers, Inc. (2004-2017); Staff Accountant, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (2003-2004); Experienced Manager/Senior/Staff, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (1996-2003); CPA designation (since 1996). | 7 | Ultimus Registered Alternatives Gateway Series Trust; Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Fund; Tortoise Sustainable and Social Impact Term Fund |
1 | The address of each Trustee and officer is 5901 College Boulevard, Suite 400, Overland Park, Kansas 66211. |
Name and Age1 |
Position(s)
Held With Trust, Term of Office and Length of Time Served |
Principal
Occupation During Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held |
Keith
A. Fletcher (1958) |
Trustee; Indefinite; Since October 2024 | Principal and Founder, JAHFT Solutions (since 2017); Principal and Chief Distribution Officer, Riskx Investments (2012-2017); Chief Marketing Officer, Guggenheim Investments/Rydex SGI (2008-2012); Managing Director, Lyster Watson (2007-2008); President and Chief Executive Officer, Fletcher Financial Group Inc. (2004-2007); Chief Marketing Officer, Executive Vice President, Van Eck Global (1992-2004). | 7 | Valkyrie ETF Trust II |
S-35
Name and Age1 |
Position(s)
Held With Trust, Term of Office and Length of Time Served |
Principal
Occupation During Past Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held |
Andrew J.
Iseman (1964) |
Trustee; Indefinite; Since October 2024 | Member, Governing Council, Independent Directors Council (since 2024); Adjunct Faculty, Rockhurst University (2018); Chief Executive Officer, Scout Investments (2010-2018); Chief Operating Officer, RK Capital Management (2009-2010); Chief Operating Officer, Janus Investment Fund, Janus Adviser Series and Janus Aspen Series (2007-2008); Senior Vice President, INTECH (2005-2007); Vice President of Investment Operations, Janus Capital Group (2003-2005); Chief Operating Officer, Berger Financial Group (1996-2003); Product Manager, DST Systems (1993-1996); Senior Compliance Examiner, FINRA (1987-1993). | 7 | Pacific Select Fund; Pacific Funds Series Trust |
John
C. Maxwell (1963) |
Trustee; Indefinite; Since October 2024 | Lead Portfolio Manager, Delaware Ivy Investments/Waddell & Reed/Ivy Investments (2006-2021); Analyst and Assistant Portfolio Manager, Delaware Ivy Investments/Waddell & Reed/Ivy Investments (1998-2006); Consumer Staples Analyst, Fort Washington Investment Advisors (1995-1998); Financial Analyst, Procter & Gamble (1992-1995); Engineer in Charge of Construction, Camp David, White House Military Office (1986-1990); First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Reserves, Corps of Engineers; CFA designation (since 1998). | 7 | None |
Interested Trustee2 | ||||
Tom
Florence (1962) |
Trustee; Indefinite; Since October 2024 | Chief Executive Officer, Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (since 2024); Managing Director, Hamilton Lane (2021-2022); Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, 361 Capital (2009-2021); Managing Partner, Black Creek Capital (2003-2008); Managing Director, Morningstar Inc. (2000-2003); Managing Director, Pilgrim Baxter & Associates (1996-2000); Vice President, Fidelity Investments (1991-1996); Vice President, Merrill Lynch (1985-1991). | 7 | Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corporation.; Tortoise Sustainable and Social Impact Term Fund |
Officers | ||||
Tom Florence | President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer); Since October 2024 | See above. | — | — |
Peter
Sattelmair (1977) |
Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer); Since October 2024 | Director of CFO Services, PINE Advisor Solutions LLC (2021 - present); Director of Fund Operations, Transamerica Asset Management (2014 - 2021). | — | — |
Amy
Siefer (1977) |
Chief Compliance Officer; Since October 2024 | Director of Fund CCO Services, PINE Advisor Solutions LLC (2024 - present); Vice President at Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (2012 - 2024). | — | — |
Jeffrey
Kruske (1975) |
Secretary; Since January 2025 | Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer at Tortoise Capital Advisors L.L.C. (since 2025); General Counsel - Managing Director at Tortoise Capital Advisors L.L.C. (2017 - 2025); General Counsel, Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner (2011 - 2016); Attorney, Schlagel Gordon & Kinzer, LLC (2009 - 2011); Attorney, Law Office of Jeffrey S. Kruske, P.A. (2002-2009). | — | Tax-Exempt Private Credit Fund |
2 | As a result of his position held with the Adviser or its affiliates, this individual is considered an “interested person” within the meaning of the 1940 Act. |
S-36
Trustee Qualifications
In addition to the experience provided in the table above, each Trustee possesses the following qualifications, attributes and skills, each of which factored into the conclusion to invite them to join the Fund’s Board: Ms. Ramirez Schoffman, experience as principal financial and chief compliance officer; Mr. Fletcher, experience as a chief distribution officer and chief marketing officer; Mr. Iseman, experience as a chief operating officer; and Mr. Maxwell, experience as portfolio manager.
Other attributes and qualifications considered for each Trustee in connection with their selection to join the Board of the Fund were their character and integrity and their willingness and ability to serve and commit the time necessary to perform the duties of a Trustee for the Fund. In addition, as to each Trustee other than Mr. Florence, his or her status as an Independent Trustee; and, as to Mr. Florence, his roles with the Adviser were an important factor in his selection as a Trustee. No experience, qualification, attribute or skill was by itself controlling.
Mr. Florence serves as Chairman of the Board of the Fund. Mr. Florence is an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The appointment of Mr. Florence as Chairman reflects the belief that his experience, familiarity with the Fund’s day-to-day operations and the individuals with responsibility for the Fund’s management and operations provides the Board with insight into the Fund’s business and activities and, with his familiarity with the Fund’s administrative support, facilitates the efficient development of meeting agendas that address the Fund’s business, legal and other needs and the orderly conduct of meetings of the Board.
The discussion of the Trustees’ experience and qualifications is pursuant to SEC requirements, does not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having special expertise, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such Trustee or the Board by reason thereof.
Trustee and Management Ownership of Fund Shares
The following table shows the dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by the Trustees as of June 30, 2025.
Name |
Dollar
Range of Fund Shares Beneficially Owned (None, $1-$10,000, $10,001-$50,000, $50,001- $100,000, Over $100,000) |
Aggregate
Dollar Range of Shares in All Funds in the Trust |
Independent Trustees | ||
Carrie Ramirez Schoffman | None | None |
Keith A. Fletcher | None | None |
Andrew J. Iseman | None | None |
John C. Maxwell | None | None |
Interested Trustee | ||
Tom Florence | None | None |
As of June 30, 2025, the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
S-37
Board Committees
Audit Committee. The Trust has an Audit Committee, which is comprised of the Independent Trustees. Carrie Ramirez Schoffman serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reviews financial statements and other audit-related matters for the Fund. The Audit Committee also holds discussions with management and with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm concerning the scope of the audit and the auditor’s independence.
Nominating & Governance Committee. The Trust has a Nominating & Governance Committee, which is comprised of the Independent Trustees. Andrew J. Iseman serves as Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee. The Nominating & Governance Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for the position of trustee and meets only as necessary.
The Nominating & Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders for vacancies on the Board of Trustees. Recommendations for consideration by the Nominating & Governance Committee should be sent to the Secretary of the Trust in writing together with the appropriate biographical information concerning each such proposed nominee. Shareholder recommendations for nominations to the Board of Trustees will be accepted on an ongoing basis. The Nominating & Governance Committee’s procedures with respect to reviewing shareholder nominations will be disclosed as required by applicable securities laws.
Distribution & Brokerage Committee. The Distribution & Brokerage Committee provides oversight with respect to the distribution of shares of the Fund including services of the Distributor and Authorized Participants, creation and redemption process and trading performance of Fund shares. The Committee also oversees matters relating to the use of brokerage commissions and placement of portfolio transactions.
Independent Trustee Compensation
Effective at the start of the fiscal year through June 2025, each Independent Trustee receives an annual retainer of $20,000, along with a fee of $1,000 per meeting attended.
Beginning in July 2025, in recognition of the increased responsibilities associated with the expansion of the series of the Trust — specifically, the addition of new funds — Trustee compensation has been adjusted accordingly. Each Independent Trustee will receive an annual retainer of $75,000. In addition, Independent Trustees will receive $5,000 for each in-person Board of Trustees meeting attended and $2,500 for each meeting attended virtually.
The Lead Independent Trustee and the Chairman of the Audit Committee will also receive supplemental annual retainers of $10,000 and $7,500, respectively.
S-38
Name of |
Aggregate Compensation From the Fund1 |
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses ($) |
Estimated
Annual Benefits Upon Retirement ($) |
Total
Compensation from Fund and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees |
Independent Trustees: | ||||
Carrie Ramirez Schoffman | $13,929 | — | — | $97,500 |
Keith A. Fletcher | $12,857 | — | — | $90,000 |
Andrew J. Iseman | $14,286 | — | — | $100,000 |
John C. Maxwell | $12,857 | — | — | $90,000 |
1 | Estimated for the Fund’s initial fiscal year ending November 30, 2026. |
Code of Ethics
The Trust, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser each have adopted a code of ethics in accordance with Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics permit the personnel of these entities to invest in securities, including securities that the Fund may purchase or hold. The codes of ethics are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.
Proxy Voting Procedures
The Fund and the Adviser have adopted proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Policy”), which the Fund believes is reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the Fund’s best interests and the shareholders’ best interests. Subject to the oversight of the Board, the Board has delegated responsibility for implementing the Proxy Policy to the Adviser. The Adviser has adopted Glass Lewis’ proxy voting guidelines, which are applied to all Adviser proxy votes at the time proxy votes are submitted. The Adviser will consider additional information that may become available regarding a particular proposal. This additional information may include an issuer’s or a shareholder proponent’s subsequently filed additional definitive proxy materials. Proxies are generally voted in accordance with the Adviser’s proxy voting guidelines; however, the Adviser may opt to override the guidelines if it is decided to be the best interest of its clients.
The Adviser is responsible for monitoring Fund actions and ensuring that proxies are voted in a timely manner. The Fund is not responsible for voting proxies it does not receive but will make reasonable efforts to obtain missing proxies. The Adviser shall implement procedures to identify and monitor potential conflicts of interest that could affect the proxy voting process, including (1) significant client relationships; (2) other potential material business relationships; and (3) material personal and family relationships. In the absence of contrary instructions received from the applicable Investment Committee of the Adviser, or a Managing Director of the Adviser designated by the Investment Committee all proxies will be voted in accordance with the referenced Glass Lewis guidelines. The Fund may determine not to vote a particular proxy, if the costs and burdens exceed the benefits of voting (e.g., when securities are subject to loan or to share blocking restrictions).
If a request for proxy presents a conflict of interest between the shareholders on the one hand, and the Adviser, the principal underwriters, or any affiliated persons of the Fund, on the other hand, management may (i) disclose the potential conflict to the Board of Trustees and obtain consent; (ii) establish an ethical wall or other informational barrier between the persons involved in the conflict and the persons making the voting decisions; (iii) abstain from voting the proxies; or (iv) use an independent third party recommendation. The Adviser will document the rationale for any proxy voted contrary to the proxy voting guidelines. Such information will be maintained as part of the recordkeeping requirements.
S-39
Control Persons and Principal Shareholders
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of control. A controlling person possesses the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted for shareholder vote by the Fund. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and no shares were outstanding.
Investment Advisory and Other Services
Investment Adviser
Our investment adviser is Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (previously defined as the “Adviser”), a registered investment adviser specializing in energy investing across the energy value chain, including infrastructure and MLPs.
Our Adviser is indirectly controlled by Lovell Minnick Partners LLC (“Lovell Minnick”), a private equity firm that invests in growth-oriented companies, and is an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Tortoise Parent Holdco LLC (“Tortoise”). A vehicle formed by Lovell Minnick owned by certain private funds sponsored by Lovell Minnick and a group of institutional co-investors owns a controlling interest in Tortoise. Our Adviser is located at 5901 College Boulevard, Suite 400, Overland Park, Kansas 66211. As of June 30, 2025, our Adviser had approximately $9.1 billion in assets under management in the energy sector.
Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser, subject to overall oversight by the Board, manages our investments. The Adviser regularly provides us with investment research advice and oversight and will furnish continuously an investment program for us, consistent with our investment objective and policies.
Investment Sub-Adviser
The Adviser has retained ETC, 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120, to serve as sub-adviser for the Fund. ETC is majority owned by Cottonwood ETF Holdings LLC, which is controlled by Richard R. Hogan. ETC has provided investment advisory services to individual and institutional accounts since 2009.
Pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and ETC (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”), ETC is responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions as instructed by the Adviser or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the Fund’s respective Underlying Index, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board. For the services it provides to the Fund, ETC is compensated by the Adviser from the management fees paid by the Fund to the Adviser.
S-40
The Sub-Advisory Agreement will continue in force for an initial period of two years. Thereafter, the Sub-Advisory Agreement is renewable from year to year with respect to the Fund, so long as its continuance is approved at least annually (1) by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose, of a majority of those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust; and (2) by the majority vote of either the full Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Sub-Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or, with respect to the Fund, by a majority of the outstanding shares, or by the Adviser, in each case upon 60 days’ written notice to ETC, or by ETC on 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust. The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that the Sub-Adviser shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder.
ETC has served as sub-adviser since inception.
Distribution of Fund Shares
The Trust has entered into a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with the Distributor, pursuant to which the Distributor acts as the Fund’s principal underwriter and distributes shares. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Distributor only in Creation Units. The Distributor will not distribute shares in amounts less than a Creation Unit. The Distributor is not affiliated with the Adviser, Administrator, Fund Accountant or the Custodian.
Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor, as agent for the Trust, will receive orders for the purchase and redemption of Creation Units, provided that any subscriptions and orders will not be binding on the Trust until accepted by the Trust. The Distributor will deliver the Prospectus and, upon request, the SAI to persons purchasing Creation Units and will maintain records of orders placed with it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Units of shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Authorized Participants (as discussed in “Procedures for Creation of Creation Units” below) or DTC participants (as defined below).
The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and, in either case, by a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, on 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust, or by the Distributor on 60 days’ written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment,” as defined in the 1940 Act.
Other Service Providers
U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, serves as the Administrator, Transfer Agent and index receipt agent (as that term is defined in the rules of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”)) for the Fund.
S-41
Pursuant to a Fund Administration Servicing Agreement and Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between the Trust and U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, the Administrator, provides certain administrative services to the Fund, including, among other responsibilities, portfolio accounting services, tax accounting services and furnishing financial reports, acting as a liaison among Fund service providers, coordinating the Board of Trustees’ communications, compliance control services, Fund valuation and financial reporting services, preparing non-investment related statistical, researching data as requested, arranging for the computation of performance data, including NAV per share and yield; and arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the Fund. In this capacity, the Administrator does not have any responsibility or authority for the investment management of the Fund, the determination of investment policy, or for any matter pertaining to the distribution of Fund shares. As compensation for the administration and accounting services, U.S. Bank Global Fund Services receives a fee based on the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to an annual minimum fee. U.S. Bank Global Fund Services also is entitled to reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket expenses. The Administrator also is entitled to certain out-of-pocket expenses.
U.S. Bank Global Fund Services also acts as Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent under a separate agreement with the Trust.
Quasar Distributors, LLC, located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 acts as Distributor to the Fund.
Pursuant to a custody agreement between the Trust and the Fund, and U.S. Bank National Association, U.S. Bank Association serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets (the “Custodian”). Pursuant to the custody agreement, the Custodian receives an annual fee based on the Fund’s total average daily net assets, subject to a minimum annual fee, and certain settlement charges. The Custodian also is entitled to reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket expenses. The Custodian’s address is 1555 North Rivercenter Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212.
PINE Advisors LLC (“PINE”), located at 501 S. Cherry Street, Suite 610, Denver, Colorado 80246, provides Chief Compliance Officer and Principal Financial Officer services to the Trust pursuant to a services agreement. In consideration for these services, PINE is paid a monthly fee out of the assets of the Trust. The Trust also reimburses PINE for certain out-of-pocket expenses.
Legal Counsel
Vedder Price P.C., located at 222 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601, serves as legal counsel to the Trust. Chapman & Cutler LLP, located at 320 South Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as special tax counsel to the Fund. Morrison & Foerster LLP, located at 4200 Republic Plaza, Denver, Colorado 80202, serves as legal counsel to the Independent Trustees.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
[•] serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. Its services include auditing the Fund’s financial statements and the performance of related compliance tax services.
S-42
Distribution (Rule 12b-1) Plan
The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) with respect to the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. The Fund does not presently intend to make any payments pursuant to the Plan. Continuance of the Plan with respect to the Fund must be approved annually by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan (“Qualified Trustees”). The Plan requires that quarterly written reports of amounts spent under the Plan and the purposes of such expenditures be furnished to and reviewed by the Trustees. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount that may be spent thereunder with respect to the Fund without approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of any class of the Fund that are affected by such increase. All material amendments of the Plan will require approval by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and of the Qualified Trustees.
The Plan provides that the Fund pay the Distributor an annual fee of up to a maximum of up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s shares. Under the Plan, the Distributor may make payments pursuant to written agreements to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations and insurance companies including, without limit, investment counselors, broker-dealers and the Distributor’s affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, “Agents”) as compensation for services and reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance. The Plan is characterized as a compensation plan since the distribution fee will be paid to the Distributor without regard to the distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor or the amount of payments made to other financial institutions and intermediaries. The Trust intends to operate the Plan in accordance with its terms and with FINRA rules concerning sales charges.
Under the Plan, subject to the limitations of applicable law and regulations, the Fund is authorized to compensate the Distributor up to the maximum amount to finance any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units of the Fund or for providing or arranging for others to provide shareholder services and for the maintenance of shareholder accounts. Such activities may include, but are not limited to: (i) delivering copies of the Fund’s then current reports, prospectuses, notices, and similar materials, to prospective purchasers of Creation Units; (ii) marketing and promotional services, including advertising; (iii) paying the costs of and compensating others, including Authorized Participants with whom the Distributor has entered into written Authorized Participant Agreements, for performing shareholder servicing on behalf of the Fund; (iv) compensating certain Authorized Participants for providing assistance in distributing the Creation Units of the Fund, including the travel and communication expenses and salaries and/or commissions of sales personnel in connection with the distribution of the Creation Units of the Fund; (v) payments to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies and investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund supermarkets and the affiliates and subsidiaries of the Trust’s service providers as compensation for services or reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance; (vi) facilitating communications with beneficial owners of shares, including the cost of providing (or paying others to provide) services to beneficial owners of shares, including, but not limited to, assistance in answering inquiries related to shareholder accounts, and (vii) such other services and obligations as are set forth in the Distribution Agreement.
S-43
The Trust currently does not intend to utilize the 12b-1 Plan with respect to the Fund.
Marketing Support Payments
The Adviser, out of its own profits and resources and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide cash payments or other compensation (“Support Payments”) to certain financial intermediaries who sell and/or promote the sale of shares of the Fund. Subject to and in accordance with the terms of the Fund’s Prospectus and the Plan (as applicable) adopted by resolution of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, and specifically the “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” section of the Fund’s Prospectus, the Adviser may make Support Payments to such financial intermediaries related to marketing/distribution support, education training or support, shareholder servicing, sales meetings, inclusion on sales lists (including a preferred or select sales list), participation in sales programs, and for making shares of the Fund available to the intermediaries’ customers generally and in investment programs.
Support Payments made by the Adviser to intermediaries may be calculated in different ways, including: (1) as a percentage of net sales; (2) as a percentage of net assets; and (3) as a flat fee.
The possibility of receiving, or the receipt of, such Support Payments as described above may provide such intermediaries and/or their salespersons with an incentive to favor sales of shares of the Fund, and other funds whose affiliates make similar compensation available, over other investments that do not make such payments. Investors may wish to take such payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to the Fund and other ETFs.
The Fund is managed by the Sub-Adviser’s portfolio management team. The individual members of the team jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio are described below.
Andrew Serowik has served as a portfolio manager for the Fund since inception.
Gabriel Tan, CFA, CFP® has served as a portfolio manager for the Fund since inception.
Todd Alberico has served as a portfolio manager for the Fund since inception.
Brian Cooper has served as a portfolio manager for the Fund since inception.
S-44
The following table provides information regarding other accounts managed by each portfolio manager, excluding the Fund, including information regarding the number of managed accounts that pay a performance fee, as of June 30, 2025:
Name of |
Account Category |
#
of Accounts |
Total
Assets of Accounts (in millions) |
#
of Accounts Paying a Performance Fee |
Total
Assets of Accounts Paying a Performance Fee |
Andrew Serowik | |||||
Registered investment companies | 99 | $13,185 | 0 | 0 | |
Other pooled investment vehicles | 0 | $0 | 0 | 0 | |
Other accounts | 0 | $0 | 0 | 0 | |
Gabriel Tan | |||||
Registered investment companies | 99 | $13,185 | 0 | 0 | |
Other pooled investment vehicles | 0 | $0 | 0 | 0 | |
Other accounts | 0 | $0 | 0 | 0 | |
Todd Alberico | |||||
Registered investment companies | 99 | $13,185 | 0 | 0 | |
Other pooled investment vehicles | 0 | $0 | 0 | 0 | |
Other accounts | 0 | $0 | 0 | 0 | |
Brian Cooper | |||||
Registered investment companies | 99 | $13,185 | 0 | 0 | |
Other pooled investment vehicles | 0 | $0 | 0 | 0 | |
Other accounts | 0 | $0 | 0 | 0 |
Securities Ownership of Portfolio Managers
As of June 30, 2025, the Fund’s portfolio managers did not own any shares of the Fund.
Potential Conflicts of Interest Involving the Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Manager Compensation
Conflicts of interest may arise because the Adviser or Sub-Adviser and their affiliates generally may provide investment advisory services for other clients and may engage in other business ventures in which the Fund will have no interest. As a result of these separate business activities, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser and affiliates may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, services, and functions among the Fund and other business ventures and advisory clients.
The portfolio managers’ management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund’s investments, on one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have similar investment objectives as the Fund. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby a portfolio manager could favor one account over another. Another potential conflict could include a portfolio manager’s knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby such portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund. However, the Sub-Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts the Sub-Adviser manages are fairly and equitably allocated.
The Adviser and Sub-Adviser have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure that each entity conducts its trading activities separately and without knowledge or consultation with the other entity. As a result, investment professionals at the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser may place trades that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of the Fund, or may make investment decisions that are similar to those made for the Fund, both of which have potential to adversely impact the Fund depending on market conditions.
S-45
Additionally, the Adviser may in the future provide advice to other clients, including separately managed accounts, commingled funds and additional investment funds, using the same strategy as the Fund or to other funds or accounts which seek to replicate the performance of similar or different indices. Advisory accounts of the Adviser following the same or similar strategies may experience differences in return or tracking error due to various factors including the size of the account, timing of investments, liquidity needs, and differences in cash inflows and outflows. The Adviser and its principals, officers, employees, and affiliates may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts and may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with respect to investments made on the Fund’s behalf. As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by principals, officers, employees, and affiliates of the Adviser that are the same as, different from, or made at a different time than positions taken for the Fund.
The Adviser serves as the index provider to the Fund. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures designed to address potential conflicts that may arise from the advisory activities of the Adviser, and the provision of the index by the Adviser. For example, such policies and procedures limit the ability of the Adviser’s portfolio management personnel from influencing personnel who are responsible for maintaining the Underlying Index’s methodology. In addition, information about changes to the Underlying Index’s methodology and changes in constituent components are treated as confidential information and the Adviser has adopted policies and procedures that it believes are reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of such information. Further, the Adviser has adopted a code of ethics governing the personal trading activity of its personnel. Finally, the Fund will disclose on a daily basis its entire portfolio holdings.
The portfolio managers do not receive any direct compensation from the Fund.
Each portfolio manager’s compensation includes a fixed base salary and discretionary bonus which is not tied to the performance of the Fund or asset growth in the Fund. The discretionary bonus is tied to the profitability of the overall firm.
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
Subject to the oversight of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund, broker-dealer selection, and negotiation of brokerage commission rates. The Sub-Adviser’s primary consideration in effecting a security transaction will be to obtain the best execution. In selecting a broker-dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser will initially consider its ability to execute transactions at the most favorable prices and lowest overall execution costs, while also taking into consideration other relevant factors, such as, the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker-dealer, the size of and difficulty in executing the order, the quality of execution and custodial services, and the provision of valuable research services that can be reasonably expected to enhance the investment return of clients managed by the Sub-Adviser. Research services may include reports on particular companies, the market, the economy and other general widely distributed research, and may be used by the Sub-Adviser in servicing any funds and accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser, including the Fund. Receipt of research is one of a number of factors considered in assigning an overall internal ranking to brokers. The price to the Fund in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified by other aspects of the execution services offered.
S-46
The Fund may, from time to time, enter into arrangements with placement agents in connection with direct placement transactions. In evaluating placement agent proposals, the Sub-Adviser will consider each broker’s access to issuers of water and pipeline securities and experience transacting in water and pipeline markets, particularly the direct placement market. In addition to these factors, the Sub-Adviser will consider whether the proposed services are customary, whether the proposed fee schedules are within the range of customary rates, whether any proposal would obligate us to enter into transactions involving a minimum fee, dollar amount or volume of securities, or into any transaction whatsoever, and other terms such as indemnification provisions.
The Sub-Adviser shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty solely by reason of its having caused the Fund to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage and research services to the Sub-Adviser an amount of commission for effecting an investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the Sub-Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to other clients of the Sub-Adviser as to which the Sub-Adviser exercises investment discretion. The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions is evaluated by the Sub-Adviser based upon its knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions paid by other institutional investors for comparable services. The Sub-Adviser is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of the Fund to such brokers and dealers who also provide research or statistical material or other services to the Sub-Adviser. Such allocation shall be in such amounts and proportions as the Sub-Adviser shall determine and the Sub-Adviser will report on said allocations regularly to the Adviser and Board of Trustees indicating the brokers to whom such allocations have been made and the basis therefor.
Portfolio transactions may be placed with broker-dealers who sell shares of the Fund subject to rules adopted by FINRA and the SEC. Portfolio transactions may also be placed with broker-dealers in which the Adviser has invested on behalf of the Fund and/or client accounts.
Purchase and Issuance of Shares in Creation Units
The Trust issues and redeems shares of the Fund only in large blocks, known as “Creation Units,” which amount may change from time to time. The Trust issues and sells shares of the Fund: (i) in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Fund’s distributor, without a sales load (but subject to transaction fees), at their NAV per share next determined after receipt of an order, on any day the Fund’s primary listing exchange is open for business (“Business Day”), in proper form pursuant to the terms of the authorized participant agreement (“Participant Agreement”); or (ii) pursuant to the dividend reinvestment service of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). The NAV of the Fund’s shares is calculated each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the Fund’s primary listing exchange, generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time. The Fund will not issue or redeem fractional Creation Units.
S-47
Fund Deposit. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of the Fund generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) per each Creation Unit, constituting a substantial replication, or a portfolio sampling representation, of the securities included in the Fund’s portfolio and the Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a “cash in lieu” amount (“Deposit Cash”) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for all or a portion of Deposit Cash, the Fund may incur additional costs associated with the acquisition of Deposit Securities that would otherwise be provided by an in-kind purchaser. These additional costs associated with the acquisition of Deposit Securities (“Non-Standard Charges”) may be recoverable from the purchaser of Creation Units.
Together, the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of the Fund. The “Cash Component” is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares (per Creation Unit) and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the Cash Component will be such positive amount. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the Cash Component shall be such negative amount and the creator will be entitled to receive cash in an amount equal to the Cash Component. The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable. Computation of the Cash Component excludes any stamp duty or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities, if applicable, which will be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant (as defined below).
The Fund, through NSCC, makes available on each Business Day, immediately prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for the Fund. The Fund Deposit is subject to any applicable adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, is made available.
S-48
The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities or the amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, required for the Fund Deposit for the Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Adviser with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of the Fund’s portfolio.
The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash (i.e., a “cash in lieu” amount) to replace any Deposit Security, which will be added to the Deposit Cash, if applicable, and the Cash Component, including, without limitation, in situations where the Deposit Security: (i) may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery; (ii) may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC for corporate securities and municipal securities; (iii) may not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant (as defined below) or the investor for which it is acting; (iv) would be restricted under the securities laws or where the delivery of the Deposit Security to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of the Deposit Security by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws; or (v) in certain other situations (collectively, “custom orders”). The adjustments described above will reflect changes, known to the Adviser on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of the Fund Deposit, in the composition of the Fund’s portfolio or resulting from certain corporate actions.
Procedures for Purchase of Creation Units. To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor to purchase a Creation Unit of the Fund, an entity must be (i) a “Participating Party,” i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC; or (ii) a DTC Participant. In addition, each Participating Party or DTC Participant (each, an “Authorized Participant”) must execute a Participant Agreement that has been agreed to by the Distributor, and that has been accepted by the Transfer Agent and the Trust, with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units. Each Authorized Participant will agree, pursuant to the terms of a Participant Agreement, on behalf of itself or any investor on whose behalf it will act, to certain conditions, including that it will pay to the Trust an amount of cash sufficient to pay the Cash Component together with the Creation Transaction Fee (defined below) and any other applicable fees and taxes. The Adviser may retain all or a portion of the Creation Transaction Fee to the extent the Adviser bears the expenses that otherwise would be borne by the Trust in connection with the purchase of a Creation Unit, which the Transaction Fee is designed to cover.
All orders to purchase shares directly from the Fund must be placed for one or more Creation Units in the manner set forth in the Participant Agreement (the “Cut-Off Time”). The Cut-Off Time for Fund orders is expected to be 2:00 p.m. Eastern time, which may be modified by the Fund from time-to-time by amendment to the Participant Agreement and/or applicable order form. In the case of custom orders, the order must be received by the Distributor no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern time or such earlier time as may be designated by the Fund and disclosed to Authorized Participants. The date on which an order to purchase Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units, as set forth below) is received and accepted is referred to as the “Order Placement Date.”
An Authorized Participant may require an investor to make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to the order (e.g., to provide for payments of cash, when required). Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and that, therefore, orders to purchase shares directly from the Fund in Creation Units have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. In such cases there may be additional charges to such investor. At any given time, there may be only a limited number of broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement and only a small number of such Authorized Participants may have international capabilities.
S-49
On days when the Exchange closes earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders to create Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. In addition, if a market or markets on which the Fund’s investments are primarily traded is closed on any day, the Fund will also generally not accept orders on such day. Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement and in accordance with the AP Handbook. With respect to the Fund, the Distributor will notify the Custodian of such order. The Custodian will then provide such information to the appropriate local sub-custodian(s). Those placing orders through an Authorized Participant should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the purchase order to the Distributor by the Cut-Off Time on the Business Day on which the order is placed. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or an Authorized Participant.
Fund Deposits must be delivered by an Authorized Participant through the Federal Reserve System (for cash) or through DTC (for corporate securities), through a subcustody agent (for foreign securities) and/or through such other arrangements allowed by the Trust or its agents. With respect to foreign Deposit Securities, the Custodian will cause the sub-custodian of the Fund to maintain an account into which the Authorized Participant will deliver, on behalf of itself or the party on whose behalf it is acting, such Deposit Securities (or Deposit Cash for all or a part of such securities, as permitted or required), with any appropriate adjustments as advised by the Trust. Foreign Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local sub-custodian. The Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the Authorized Participant in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, to the account of the Fund or its agents by no later than 12:00 p.m., Eastern time (or such other time as specified by the Trust) on the Settlement Date. If the Fund or its agents do not receive all of the Deposit Securities, or the required Deposit Cash in lieu thereof, by such time, then the order may be deemed rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. The “Settlement Date” for the Fund is generally the second Business Day after the Order Placement Date. All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash to be delivered, as applicable, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities or cash, as applicable, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination will be final and binding. The amount of cash represented by the Cash Component must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than the Settlement Date. If the Cash Component and the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, are not received in a timely manner by the Settlement Date, the creation order may be cancelled. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using the Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current NAV of the Fund.
S-50
The order will be deemed to be received on the Business Day on which the order is placed provided that the order is placed in proper form prior to the Cut-Off Time and the federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited by 2:00 p.m., Eastern time, with the Custodian on the Settlement Date. If the order is not placed in proper form as required, or federal funds in the appropriate amount are not received by 2:00 p.m., Eastern time on the Settlement Date, then the order may be deemed to be rejected and the Authorized Participant will be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. A creation request is considered to be in “proper form” if all procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, AP Handbook and this SAI are properly followed.
Issuance of a Creation Unit. Except as provided herein, Creation Units will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the Trust of the Deposit Securities or payment of Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the payment of the Cash Component have been completed. When the sub-custodian has confirmed to the Custodian that the required Deposit Securities (or the cash value thereof) have been delivered to the account of the relevant sub-custodian or sub-custodians, the Distributor and the Adviser will be notified of such delivery, and the Trust will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Units. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the second Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor. However, the Fund reserves the right to settle Creation Unit transactions on a basis other than the second Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor in order to accommodate foreign market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates (that is the last day the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security), and in certain other circumstances. The Authorized Participant will be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting from unsettled orders.
Creation Units may be purchased in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the shares on the date the order is placed in proper form since in addition to available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) an additional amount of cash equal to a percentage of the market value as set forth in the Participant Agreement, of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”), which will be maintained in a separate non-interest bearing collateral account. The Authorized Participant must deposit with the Custodian the Additional Cash Deposit, as applicable, by 12:00 p.m., Eastern time (or such other time as specified by the Trust) on the Settlement Date. If the Fund or its agents do not receive the Additional Cash Deposit in the appropriate amount, by such time, then the order may be deemed rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. An additional amount of cash will be required to be deposited with the Trust, pending delivery of the missing Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an amount at least equal to the applicable percentage, as set forth in the Participant Agreement, of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. The Participant Agreement will permit the Trust to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust for the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Distributor plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Custodian or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a Transaction Fee as set forth below under “Creation Transaction Fee” will be charged in all cases, unless otherwise advised by the Fund, and Non-Standard Charges may also apply. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the Settlement Date.
S-51
Acceptance of Orders of Creation Units. The Trust reserves the right to reject an order for Creation Units transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect of the Fund including, without limitation, if (a) the order is not in proper form; (b) the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, delivered by the Authorized Participant are not as disseminated through the facilities of the NSCC for that date by the Custodian; (c) the investor(s), upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of the Fund; (d) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (e) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (f) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; (g) the acceptance or receipt of the order for a Creation Unit would, in the opinion of counsel to the Trust, be unlawful; or (h) circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent and/or the Adviser make it for all practical purposes not feasible to process orders for Creation Units.
Examples of such circumstances include acts of God or public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, the Distributor, the Custodian, a sub-custodian, the Transfer Agent, DTC, NSCC, Federal Reserve System, or any other participant in the creation process, and other extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of the creator of a Creation Unit of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor will either of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification. The Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian and the Distributor will not be liable for the rejection of any purchase order for Creation Units.
All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered will be determined by the Trust, and the Trust’s determination will be final and binding.
Creation Transaction Fee. A purchase (i.e., creation) transaction fee (the “Creation Transaction Fee”) is imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the purchase of Creation Units, and investors will be required to pay a Creation Transaction Fee regardless of the number of Creation Units created in the transaction. The Fund may adjust the Creation Transaction Fee from time to time based upon actual experience. The fixed creation fee may be waived on certain orders if the Fund’s custodian has determined to waive some or all of the creation order costs associated with the order or another party, such as the Fund’s investment adviser, has agreed to pay such fee. In addition, the Fund may impose a Non-Standard Charge of up to 2% of the value of the creation transactions for cash creations, non-standard orders, or partial cash purchases for the Fund. The Fund may adjust the Non-Standard Charge from time to time based upon actual experience. Investors who use the services of an Authorized Participant, broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services, which may include an amount for the Creation Transaction Fee and Non-Standard Charges. Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust. The Fund may determine to not charge a Non-Standard Charge on certain orders when the Fund’s investment adviser has determined that doing so is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, e.g., for creation of orders that facilitate the rebalance of the Fund’s portfolio in a more tax efficient manner than could be achieved without such order. The Adviser may retain all or a portion of the Creation Transaction Fee to the extent the Adviser bears the expenses that otherwise would be borne by the Trust in connection with the purchase of a Creation Unit, which the Creation Transaction Fee is designed to cover. The standard Creation Transaction Fee for the Fund is $500.
S-52
Risks of Purchasing Creation Units. There are certain legal risks unique to investors purchasing Creation Units directly from the Fund. Because the Fund’s shares may be issued on an ongoing basis, a “distribution” of shares could be occurring at any time. Certain activities that a shareholder performs as a dealer could, depending on the circumstances, result in the shareholder being deemed a participant in the distribution in a manner that could render the shareholder a statutory underwriter and subject to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act. For example, a shareholder could be deemed a statutory underwriter if it purchases Creation Units from the Fund, breaks them down into the constituent shares, and sells those shares directly to customers, or if a shareholder chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary-market demand for shares. Whether a person is an underwriter depends upon all of the facts and circumstances pertaining to that person’s activities, and the examples mentioned here should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could cause a shareholder to be deemed an underwriter.
Dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as opposed to engaging in ordinary secondary-market transactions), and thus dealing with the Fund’s shares as part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(C) of the Securities Act, will be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3)(C) of the Securities Act.
Redemption. Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a Business Day. Except upon liquidation of the Fund, the Trust will not redeem shares in amounts less than Creation Units. Investors must accumulate enough shares in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.
With respect to the Fund, the Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available immediately prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time) on each Business Day, the list of the names and share quantities of the Fund’s portfolio securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day (“Fund Securities”). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities.
S-53
Redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit are paid either in-kind or in cash, or combination thereof, as determined by the Trust. With respect to in-kind redemptions of the Fund, redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will consist of Fund Securities—as announced by the Custodian on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in proper form—plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less any fixed redemption transaction fee as set forth below and any Non-Standard Charges. If the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the differential is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the Trust’s discretion, an Authorized Participant may receive the corresponding cash value of the securities in lieu of the in-kind securities value representing one or more Fund Securities.
Cash Redemption Method. Although the Trust does not ordinarily permit full or partial cash redemptions of Creation Units of the Fund, when full or partial cash redemptions of Creation Units are available or specified for the Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind redemptions thereof. In the case of full or partial cash redemptions, the Authorized Participant will receive the cash equivalent of the Fund Securities it would otherwise receive through an in-kind redemption, plus the same Cash Redemption Amount to be paid to an in-kind redeemer.
Redemption Transaction Fees. A redemption transaction fee (the “Redemption Transaction Fee”) may be imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the redemption of Creation Units, and Authorized Participants will be required to pay a Redemption Transaction Fee regardless of the number of Creation Units created in the transaction. The Redemption Transaction Fee is the same no matter how many Creation Units are being redeemed pursuant to any one redemption request. The Fund may adjust the Redemption Transaction Fee from time to time based upon actual experience. The fixed redemption fee may be waived on certain orders if the Fund’s custodian has determined to waive some or all of the redemption order costs associated with the order of another party, such as the Fund’s investment adviser, has agreed to pay such fee. In addition, the Fund may impose a Non-Standard Charge of up to 2% of the value of a redemption transaction for cash redemptions, non-standard orders, or partial cash redemptions for the Fund. Investors who use the services of an Authorized Participant, broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services which may include an amount for the Redemption Transaction Fees and Non-Standard Charges. Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Fund Securities to the account of the Trust. The Non-Standard Charges are payable to the Fund as they incur costs in connection with the redemption of Creation Units, the receipt of Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount and other transaction costs. The standard Redemption Transaction Fee for the Fund is $500.
S-54
Procedures for Redemption of Creation Units. Orders to redeem Creation Units must be submitted in proper form to the Transfer Agent prior to the time as set forth in the Participant Agreement. A redemption request is considered to be in “proper form” if (i) an Authorized Participant has transferred or caused to be transferred to the Trust’s Transfer Agent the Creation Unit(s) being redeemed through the book-entry system of DTC so as to be effective by the time as set forth in the Participant Agreement and (ii) a request in form satisfactory to the Trust is received by the Transfer Agent from the Authorized Participant on behalf of itself or another redeeming investor within the time periods specified in the Participant Agreement. If the Transfer Agent does not receive the investor’s shares through DTC’s facilities by the times and pursuant to the other terms and conditions set forth in the Participant Agreement, the redemption request will be rejected.
The Authorized Participant must transmit the request for redemption, in the form required by the Trust, to the Transfer Agent in accordance with procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement, and that, therefore, requests to redeem Creation Units may have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant which has executed a Participant Agreement. Investors making a redemption request should be aware that such request must be in the form specified by such Authorized Participant. Investors making a request to redeem Creation Units should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the request by an Authorized Participant and transfer of the shares to the Trust’s Transfer Agent; such investors should allow for the additional time that may be required to effect redemptions through their banks, brokers or other financial intermediaries if such intermediaries are not Authorized Participants.
In connection with taking delivery of shares of Fund Securities upon redemption of Creation Units, a redeeming shareholder or Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such shareholder must maintain appropriate custody arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody provider in each jurisdiction in which any of the Fund Securities are customarily traded, to which account the Fund Securities will be delivered. Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within two Business Days of the trade date.
Additional Redemption Procedures. In connection with taking delivery of shares of Fund Securities upon redemption of Creation Units, the Authorized Participant must maintain appropriate custody arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody provider in each jurisdiction in which any of the Fund Securities are customarily traded, to which account the Fund Securities will be delivered. Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within two Business Days of the trade date. However, due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, the different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and dividend ex-dates (that is the last date the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security sold), and in certain other circumstances, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds may take longer than two Business Days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form; in such circumstances, the Fund may delay delivery more than seven days if the Fund makes such delivery as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 days. If neither the redeeming shareholder nor the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such redeeming shareholder has appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Fund Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities in such jurisdiction, the Trust may, in its discretion, exercise its option to redeem such shares in cash, and the redeeming shareholder will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash.
S-55
In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that the Fund may, in their sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its shares based on the NAV of shares of the Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional charge for requested cash redemptions specified above, to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). The Fund may also, in its sole discretion, upon request of a shareholder, provide such redeemer a portfolio of securities that differs from the exact composition of the Fund Securities but does not differ in NAV.
Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and the Fund (whether or not they otherwise permit cash redemptions) reserve the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of Creation Units may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming investor of the shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment. Further, an Authorized Participant that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” (“QIB”) as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the Securities Act, will not be able to receive Fund Securities that are restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A. An Authorized Participant may be required by the Trust to provide a written confirmation with respect to QIB status in order to receive Fund Securities.
Because the portfolio securities of the Fund may trade on the relevant exchange(s) on days that the Exchange is closed or are otherwise not Business Days for the Fund, shareholders may not be able to redeem their shares of the Fund, or to purchase or sell shares of the Fund on the Exchange, on days when the NAV of the Fund could be significantly affected by events in the relevant foreign markets.
The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to the Fund (1) for any period during which the Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (2) for any period during which trading on the Exchange is suspended or restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the shares of the Fund or determination of the NAV of the shares is not reasonably practicable; or (4) in such other circumstance as is permitted by the SEC.
Determination of Net Asset Value
NAV for the Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Fund (i.e., the value of their total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of shares outstanding, rounded to the nearest cent. Expenses and fees, including the management fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. The NAV of the Fund is calculated by the Custodian and determined at the close of the regular trading session on the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day that such Exchange is open, provided that fixed-income assets may be valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments on any day that the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) announces an early closing time.
S-56
The Fund’s assets are generally valued at their market price on the valuation date and are based on valuations provided by independent pricing services consistent with the Trust’s valuation policies. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Adviser has been designated by the Board as the valuation designee for the Fund and has been delegated the responsibility for making good faith, fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio securities. When market prices are not readily available, or believed by the Adviser to be unreliable, a security or other asset is valued at its fair value by the Adviser as determined under fair value pricing procedures approved by the Board. The Board reviews, no less frequently than annually, the adequacy of the Fund’s policies and procedures and the effectiveness of their implementation. These fair value pricing procedures will also be used to price a security when corporate events, events in the securities market and/or world events cause the Adviser to believe that a security’s last sale price may not reflect its actual market value. The intended effect of using fair value pricing procedures is to ensure that the Fund is accurately priced.
The Fund’s securities which are traded on securities exchanges are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any reported sales, at the mean between the last available bid and ask prices.
Securities traded on a securities exchange for which a last-quoted sales price is readily available will be valued at the last sales price as reported by the primary exchange on which the securities are listed. Securities listed on Nasdaq will be valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price, which may differ from the last sales price reported. Securities traded on a securities exchange for which a last-quoted sales price is not readily available will be valued at the last bid, ask or mean between the bid and the ask price, as determined by the Adviser and disclosed in the notes of the annual report. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market in which no last sales price is available will be valued at the average of the last bid prices obtained from two or more dealers unless there is only one dealer, in which case that dealer’s last bid price is used.
Options (including options on futures contracts) and futures contracts are valued using readily available market quotations. Exchange-traded options are valued at the last reported sale price on any exchange on which they trade. If there are no sales reported on any exchange, exchange-traded options shall be valued at the mean between the last highest bid and last lowest asked prices obtained as of the closing of the exchanges on which the option is traded. Exchange-traded domestic futures contracts are valued at the last reported sale price on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Exchange-traded foreign futures contracts are valued at the last reported sale price on the primary foreign exchange on which they principally trade. The value of Flexible Exchange Options (FLEX Options) are determined (i) by an evaluated price as determined by a third-party valuation service; or (ii) by using a quotation provided by a broker-dealer.
The Funds generally value debt securities at evaluated prices obtained from an independent third-party valuation service that utilizes a pricing matrix based upon yield data for securities with similar characteristics, or based on a direct written broker-dealer quotation from a dealer who has made a market in the security. Debt securities with 60 days or less to maturity at time of purchase are valued on the basis of amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Interest rate swap contracts are valued by using industry-accepted models, which discount the estimated future cash flows based on a forward rate curve and the stated terms of the interest rate swap agreement by using interest rates currently available in the market, or based on dealer quotations, if available. Other swaps and structured notes are priced generally by an approved independent pricing service or at an evaluated price provided by a counterparty or broker/dealer.
Stocks that are “thinly traded” or events occurring when a foreign market is closed but the Exchange is open may create a situation where a market quote would not be readily available. Market quotes are also not readily available for certain swaps and derivative instruments. When a market quote is not readily available, the security’s value is based on “fair value” as determined by procedures adopted by the Board. The Board will periodically review the reliability of the Fund’s fair value methodology. The Fund may hold portfolio securities, such as those traded on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund’s shares are not priced. Therefore, the value of the Fund’s shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”
S-57
General Policies. The Fund expects to pay out dividends from distributable cash flow quarterly. Distributable cash flow generally represents dividends and distributions form equity investments, interest from debt securities and net premiums from options, less expenses. Net realized capital gains distributions, if any, will be paid out at least annually.
Due to the tax treatment under current law of cash distributions made by MLPs in which the Fund invests, a portion of the distributions the Fund anticipates making may consist of tax-deferred return of capital. To the extent that distributions exceed the Fund’s earnings and profits, distributions are generally not treated as taxable income for the investor. Instead, Fund shareholders will experience a reduction in the basis of their shares, which may increase the capital gain or reduce capital loss realized upon the sale of such shares. If all or a portion of a distribution payment made by the Fund amounts to a return of capital, the Fund would provide a written notice to that effect.
Dividends and other distributions on shares are distributed, as described below, on a pro rata basis to shareholders of the Fund. Dividend payments are made through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants to shareholders of record with proceeds received from the Fund.
The Fund may make additional distributions to the extent necessary (i) to distribute its entire annual investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction), plus its net capital gain, if any, and (ii) to avoid imposition of the excise tax imposed by Section 4982 of the Code. Management of the Trust reserves the right to declare special dividends if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve the Fund’s eligibility for treatment as a RIC or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.
Dividend Reinvestment Service. The Trust will not make the DTC book-entry dividend reinvestment service available for use by shareholders for reinvestment of their cash proceeds, but certain individual broker-dealers may make available the DTC book-entry dividend reinvestment service for use by shareholders of the Fund through DTC Participants for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Investors should contact their brokers to ascertain the availability and description of these services. Shareholders should be aware that each broker may require investors to adhere to specific procedures and timetables in order to participate in the dividend reinvestment service and investors should ascertain from their brokers such necessary details. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole shares issued by the Trust of the Fund at NAV. Distributions reinvested in additional shares of the Fund will be taxable to shareholders to the same extent as if such distributions had been received in cash.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following is a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that supplements the summary in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. The discussion reflects applicable U.S. federal income tax laws as of the date of this SAI, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts or the IRS, possibly with retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income, estate, gift, state, local or foreign tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the Fund). The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the specific tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund, including applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them or the effect of possible changes in tax laws.
S-58
In addition, no attempt is made to address tax considerations applicable to an investor with a special tax status, such as a financial institution, REIT, insurance company, regulated investment company, individual retirement account, other tax-exempt organization, dealer in securities or currencies, person holding shares of the Fund as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or straddle transaction or constructive sale, trader in securities that has elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for its securities, U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, investor with “applicable financial statements” within the meaning of Section 451(b) of the Code, or non-U.S. investor. Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes the Fund’s shares are held by U.S. persons and that such shares are held as capital assets.
A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of the shares of the Fund that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
● | a citizen or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and former long-term residents); |
● | a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
● | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
● | a trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or the trust has made a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
A “Non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is an individual, corporation, trust or estate and is not a U.S. holder. If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of the Fund, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership.
S-59
Regulated Investment Company Status. The Fund will seek to qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code. Provided that for each taxable year the Fund: (i) meets the requirements to be treated as a RIC (as discussed below); and (ii) distributes at least an amount equal to the sum of 90% of the Fund’s investment company taxable income for such year (which includes the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses), computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction, and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income for such year (the “Distribution Requirement”), the Fund itself generally will not be subject to federal income taxes to the extent the Fund’s income, including the Fund’s net capital gain (the excess of the Fund’s net long-term capital gains over its net short-term capital losses), is distributed to the Fund’s shareholders. One of several requirements for RIC qualification is that the Fund must receive at least 90% of the Fund’s gross income each year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities, foreign currencies and net income from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships, generally including MLPs and certain LLCs (the “90% Test”). A second requirement for qualification as a RIC is that the Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities, with these other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets or 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, the securities (other than securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships, generally including MLPs and certain LLCs (the “Asset Test”).
For purposes of the 90% Test, the character of income earned by certain entities in which the Fund invests that are not treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes (e.g., partnerships and LLCs that are not publicly traded partnerships and that have not elected to be classified as corporations under applicable regulations) will generally pass through to the Fund. Consequently, in order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund may be required to limit its equity investments in such entities if they earn income that is nonqualifying income for purposes of the 90% Test.
If the Fund fails to satisfy the 90% Test or the Asset Test, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the Asset Test where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time. In order to be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the Asset Test, the Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions are not available to the Fund and it fails to qualify for treatment as a RIC for a taxable year, all of its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate income tax rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and its distributions (including capital gains distributions) generally would be taxable as ordinary income dividends to its shareholders, although if certain requirements are met distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and the lower tax rates on qualified dividend income for noncorporate shareholders. To requalify for treatment as a RIC in a subsequent taxable year, the Fund would be required to satisfy the RIC qualification requirements for that year and to distribute any earnings and profits from any year in which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC. If the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for a period longer than two taxable years, it would generally be required to pay a fund-level tax on certain net built-in gains recognized with respect to certain of its assets upon a disposition of such assets within five years of qualifying as a RIC in a subsequent year. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund for treatment as a RIC if they determine such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders. If the Fund determines that they will not qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund will establish procedures to reflect the anticipated tax liability in the Fund’s NAV.
S-60
For each year, the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction) and any realized net capital gain (after taking into account any capital loss carryovers). If the Fund fails to satisfy the Distribution Requirement for any taxable year, they would be taxed as a regular corporation, with consequences generally similar to those described above.
If the Fund meets the Distribution Requirement but retain some or all of its income or gains, they will be subject to federal income tax to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. The Fund may designate certain amounts retained as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, who (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amount so designated, (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the income tax paid by the Fund on that undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities and to claim refunds to the extent such credits exceed their liabilities and (iii) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for federal income tax purposes, in their shares in the Fund by an amount equal to the excess of the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in their respective income over their respective income tax credits.
The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on certain undistributed income if they do not distribute (and are not deemed to distribute) to its shareholders in each calendar year an amount at least equal to 98% of their ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98.2% of their capital gain net income for the twelve months ended October 31 of that year, subject to an increase for any shortfall in the prior year’s distribution. For this purpose, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by the Fund and subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed. The Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of this 4% excise tax, but can make no assurances that all such tax liability will be eliminated.
Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a RIC’s net investment income. Instead, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, potentially subject to certain limitations, a RIC may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to offset capital gains in future years. The Fund is permitted to carry net capital losses forward indefinitely. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to shareholders. Generally, the Fund may not carry forward any losses other than net capital losses. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to treat certain losses as though they were incurred on the first day of the taxable year immediately following the taxable year in which they were actually incurred.
S-61
Under Section 163(j) of the Code, the amount of business interest that a taxpayer can deduct for any year is generally limited to the taxpayer’s (i) business interest income (which is the amount of interest includible in the gross income of the taxpayer which is properly allocable to a trade or business, but does not include investment income) plus (ii) 30% of adjusted taxable income (but not less than zero) plus (iii) floor plan financing interest. The IRS has issued regulations clarifying that all interest expense and interest income of a RIC is treated as properly allocable to a trade or business for purposes of the limitation on the deductibility of business interest. As a result, this limitation may impact the Fund’s ability to use leverage (e.g., borrow money, issue debt securities, etc.). Shareholders of the Fund may also be subject to this limitation. The Fund is permitted to pass-through its net business interest income (generally the Fund’s business interest income less applicable expenses and deductions) as a “Section 163(j) interest dividend.” The amount passed through to shareholders is considered interest income and can be used to determine such shareholder’s business interest deduction under Code Section 163(j), if any, subject to holding period requirements and other limitations. The Fund may choose not to report such Section 163(j) interest dividends.
Taxation of U.S. Holders. Distributions of net capital gains (the excess of the Fund’s net long-term capital gains over its net short-term capital losses) that the Fund reports to a U.S. holder as capital gain dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long such U.S. holder has owned the shares. Long-term capital gains are generally taxed to noncorporate U.S. holders at rates of up to 20%. All other dividends of the Fund (including dividends from net short-term capital gains) to the extent of its current or accumulated earnings and profits are generally subject to tax as ordinary income, subject to the discussion of qualified dividend income below.
Subject to certain limitations and requirements, including holding period requirements, dividends reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income will be taxable to noncorporate U.S. holders at rates of up to 20%. In general, dividends may be reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income if they are paid from dividends received by the Fund on common and preferred stock of U.S. companies or on stock of certain eligible foreign corporations, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met by the Fund with respect to the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio. Subject to certain limitations, eligible foreign corporations include those incorporated in possessions of the United States or in certain countries with comprehensive tax treaties with the United States, and other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. “Passive foreign investment companies” (described below) are not qualified foreign corporations for this purpose. A noncorporate U.S. holder must also meet certain holding period and other requirements with respect to its shares in the Fund to be eligible to treat amounts as qualified dividend income.
Certain dividends received by the Fund on stock of U.S. corporations (generally, dividends received by the Fund in respect of any share of stock (i) as to which the Fund has met certain holding period requirements and (ii) that is held in an unleveraged position) may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally available to corporate U.S. holders under the Code, provided such dividends are also appropriately reported as eligible for the dividends-received deduction by the Fund. In order to qualify for the dividends-received deduction, corporate U.S. holders must also meet minimum holding period requirements with respect to their Fund shares, taking into account any holding period reductions from certain hedging or other transactions or positions that diminish their risk of loss with respect to their Fund shares. The entire dividend, including the otherwise deductible amount, will be included in determining the excess, if any, of a corporation’s adjusted current earnings over its alternative minimum taxable income, which may increase a corporation’s alternative minimum tax liability. A corporate U.S. holder should consult its tax adviser regarding the possibility that its tax basis in its shares may be reduced, for federal income tax purposes, by reason of “extraordinary dividends” received with respect to the shares and, to the extent such basis would be reduced below zero, current recognition of income may be required. The Fund’s investment strategies may significantly limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations.
S-62
The Fund’s participation in loans of securities may affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to U.S. holders. If the Fund participates in a securities lending transaction and receive a payment in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan in a securities lending transaction, such income generally will not constitute qualified dividend income and thus dividends attributable to such income will not be eligible for taxation at the rates applicable to qualified dividend income. In addition, dividends attributable to such income will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate U.S. holders.
Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid, any dividend declared by the Fund in October, November or December and payable to U.S. holders of record in such a month that is paid during the following January will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as received by U.S. holders on December 31 of the calendar year in which it was declared. In addition, certain distributions made after the close of a taxable year of the Fund may be “spilled back” and treated for certain purposes as paid by the Fund during such taxable year. In such case, U.S. holders generally will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made. For purposes of calculating the amount of a RIC’s undistributed income and gain subject to the 4% excise tax described above, such “spilled back” dividends are treated as paid by the RIC when they are actually paid.
Fund distributions, if any, that exceed the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits may be treated as a return of capital to U.S. holders. A return of capital distribution generally will not be currently taxable but will reduce a U.S. holder’s cost basis and result in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when the Fund shares on which the distribution was received are sold. After a U.S. holder’s basis in the Fund shares has been reduced to zero, distributions in excess of earnings and profits will be treated as gain from the sale of the shareholder’s shares. Return of capital distributions do not represent income or gains generated by the Fund's investment activities and should not be interpreted by shareholders as such. A return of capital distribution generally will not be taxable currently but will reduce the shareholder's cost basis and will result in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when those Fund shares on which the distribution was received are sold.
Distributions that are reinvested in additional shares of the Fund will be taxable to U.S. holders to the same extent as if such distributions had been received in cash.
The U.S. holders will be notified annually by the Fund as to the federal tax characterization of all distributions made by the Fund. Distributions may be subject to state and local taxes.
U.S. individuals with income exceeding certain threshold amounts ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately and $200,000 in other cases) are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which generally includes interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale, redemption or exchange of shares of the Fund or the redemption of Creation Units). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts.
S-63
A taxable U.S. holder may wish to avoid investing in the Fund shortly before a dividend or other distribution, because the distribution will generally be taxable even though it may economically represent a return of a portion of such U.S. holder’s investment.
U.S. holders who have not held Fund shares for a full year should be aware that the Fund may report and distribute to a U.S. holder, as ordinary dividends or capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the percentage of the Fund’s ordinary income or net capital gain, respectively, actually earned during such U.S. holder’s period of investment in the Fund.
A sale or redemption of shares by a U.S. holder may give rise to a gain or loss. The difference between the selling or redemption price and such U.S. holder’s tax basis for the shares sold or redeemed generally determines the amount of the gain or loss realized on the sale, redemption or exchange of Fund shares. The tax basis of Fund shares acquired by purchase will generally be based on the amount paid for Fund shares and then may be subsequently adjusted for other applicable transactions as required by the Code. Contact the broker through whom you purchased your Fund shares to obtain information with respect to the available basis reporting methods and elections for your account.
In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be treated as capital gain or loss if the Fund shares are capital assets in the U.S. holder’s hands, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Fund shares have been held for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss if the Fund shares are held for one year or less. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions to the U.S. holder of long-term capital gain with respect to the Fund shares (including any amounts credited to the U.S. holder as undistributed capital gains). All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if substantially identical shares of the Fund or other substantially identical stock or securities are purchased (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitation under the Code.
An Authorized Participant who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize gain or loss from the exchange. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange and the sum of the Authorized Participant’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus the amount of cash paid for such Creation Units. The IRS, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales,” or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. Any gain or loss realized by an Authorized Participant upon a creation of Creation Units will be treated as capital gain or loss if the Authorized Participant holds the securities exchanged therefor as capital assets, and otherwise will be ordinary income or loss. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the creation of Creation Units will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the securities exchanged for such Creation Units have been held by the Authorized Participant for more than one year, and otherwise will be short-term capital gain or loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitation under the Code.
S-64
The Trust on behalf of the Fund has the right to reject an order for a purchase of Creation Units if the Authorized Participant (or a group of Authorized Participants) would, upon obtaining the Creation Units so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund and if, pursuant to Sections 351 and 362 of the Code, the Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of this 80% determination. If the Fund issues Creation Units to an Authorized Participant (or group of Authorized Participants) that would, upon obtaining the Creation Units so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund, the Authorized Participant (or group of Authorized Participants) may not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.
An Authorized Participant who redeems Creation Units will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the sum of the aggregate market value of any securities received plus the amount of any cash received for such Creation Units and the Authorized Participant’s basis in the Creation Units. Any gain or loss realized by an Authorized Participant upon a redemption of Creation Units will be treated as capital gain or loss if the Authorized Participant holds the shares comprising the Creation Units as capital assets, and otherwise will be ordinary income or loss. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the redemption of Creation Units will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares comprising the Creation Units have been held by the Authorized Participant for more than one year, and otherwise will generally be short-term capital gain or loss. Any capital loss realized upon a redemption of Creation Units held for six months or less will be treated as a long- term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions to the applicable Authorized Participant of long-term capital gains with respect to the Creation Units (including any amounts credited to the Authorized Participant as undistributed capital gains). The IRS may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of Creation Units for securities cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales,” or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitation under the Code.
Persons purchasing or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction.
The Fund intends to effect a significant portion of its redemptions for cash, rather than in-kind securities, and thus the Fund may be required to execute additional sale or exchange transactions that may increase the taxable income and net capital gain or both of the Fund and limit the tax efficiency of the Fund. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in an ETF that effects its creations and redemptions only in-kind.
S-65
Taxation of Fund Investments. The Fund may invest in MLPs that are treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships for federal income tax purposes. Net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership is included in the sources of income from which a RIC must derive 90% of its gross income. However, no more than 25% of the value of a RIC’s total assets at the end of each fiscal quarter may be invested in securities of qualified publicly traded partnerships. If an MLP in which the Fund invests is taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the Fund will be taxable on its allocable share of the MLP’s income regardless of whether the Fund receives any distribution from the MLP. Thus, the Fund may be required to sell other securities in order to satisfy the distribution requirements to qualify as a RIC and to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Distributions to the Fund from an MLP that is taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital to the extent of the Fund’s basis in its interest in the MLP. If the Fund’s basis is reduced to zero, distributions will constitute capital gain for federal income tax purposes.
Certain of the Fund’s investments may be subject to complex provisions of the Code (including provisions relating to hedging transactions, straddles, integrated transactions, foreign currency contracts, forward foreign currency contracts, and notional principal contracts) that, among other things, (i) convert distributions that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income into ordinary income taxed at the higher rate applicable to ordinary income, (ii) treat distributions that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction as ineligible for such treatment, (iii) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (iv) convert long-term capital gain into short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (v) convert an ordinary loss or deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (vi) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (vii) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (viii) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions, and (ix) produce income that will not be included in the sources of income from which a RIC must derive at least 90% of its gross income each year. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to U.S. holders. These provisions also may require the Fund to mark to market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the RIC distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make appropriate tax elections, and intends to make appropriate entries in its books and records in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and preserve its qualification for treatment as a RIC.
If the Fund invests in certain pay-in-kind securities, zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities or, in general, any other securities with original issue discount (or with market discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the Fund must accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Fund must distribute to shareholders, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), including such income it is required to accrue, to qualify as a RIC and avoid federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Fund may have to dispose of its portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements.
The Fund may acquire debt securities that are market discount bonds. A market discount bond is a security acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value (or its adjusted issue price if it is also an original-issue discount bond). If the Fund invests in a market discount bond, they will be required to treat any gain recognized on the disposition of such market discount bond as ordinary taxable income to the extent of the accrued market discount unless the Fund elects to include the market discount in taxable income as it accrues.
S-66
The Fund’s investment in lower rated or unrated debt securities may present issues for the Fund if the issuers of these securities default on their obligations because the federal income tax consequences to a holder of such securities are not certain.
The Fund’s investments in options may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary income and loss or capital gain and loss or whether capital gains and losses are long-term or short-term in nature, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund and/or defer the Fund’s ability to recognize losses. In turn, those rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed by the Fund. It is anticipated that any net gain realized from the lapse or closing out of options contracts will be considered qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Test.
If the Fund holds an equity interest in any “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”), which are generally certain non-U.S. corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties or capital gains) or that hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on gains and certain distributions with respect to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such taxes. The Fund may be able to make an election that could ameliorate these adverse tax consequences. In this case, the Fund would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such PFIC shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it did not exceed prior increases included in income. Under this election, the Fund might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of its distributions from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement and would be taken into account for purposes of a 4% excise tax that can be imposed if the Fund fails to meet certain calendar year distribution requirements contained in the Code. Dividends paid by PFICs are not treated as qualified dividend income.
The Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries, including taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains with respect to any investments in those countries. Any such taxes would, if imposed, reduce the yield on or return from those investments. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. The Fund does not expect to satisfy the requirements for passing through to its shareholders any share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund, with the result that U.S. holders will not be required to include such taxes in their gross incomes and will not be entitled to a tax deduction or credit for any such taxes on their own tax returns.
S-67
Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the time the Fund accrues income or receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such income or pays such liabilities generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, on disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency and on disposition of certain other instruments, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition also may be treated as ordinary gain or loss. These gains and losses, referred to under the Code as “Section 988” gains or losses, may increase or decrease the amount of the Fund’s investment company taxable income to be distributed to the U.S. holders as ordinary income.
Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required to withhold federal income tax at a rate of 24% from all distributions and redemption proceeds payable to U.S. holders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified (or the Fund has been notified) by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Corporate U.S. holders and certain other U.S. holders specified in the Code generally are exempt from such backup withholding. This withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders. Non-U.S. holders are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. Gains realized by Non-U.S. holders from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Non-U.S. holders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if a Non-U.S. holder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a Non-U.S. holder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.
The 30% withholding tax also will not apply to dividends that the Fund elects to report as (a) interest-related dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the Fund’s “qualified net interest income,” or (b) short-term capital gain dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the Fund’s interest and original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. “Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of the net short-term capital gain of the Fund for the taxable year over its net long-term capital loss, if any. The Fund may choose not to make such elections even if they are otherwise available. In the case of Fund shares held through a broker, the broker may withhold even if the Fund reports a payment as an interest-related dividend or a short-term capital gain dividend. Non-U.S. holders should contact their brokers with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) generally requires the Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders. If a shareholder fails to provide this information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA, the Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on Fund dividends and distributions and redemption proceeds. The Fund may disclose the information that it receives from (or concerning) its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA, related intergovernmental agreements or other applicable laws or regulations. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.
S-68
Pursuant to proposed regulations, the Treasury Department has indicated its intent to eliminate the requirements under FATCA of withholding on gross proceeds from the sale, exchange, maturity or other disposition of relevant financial instruments (including redemptions of stock). The Treasury Department has indicated that taxpayers may rely on these proposed regulations pending their finalization.
A beneficial holder of Fund shares who is a Non-U.S. holder may be subject to foreign, state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the federal income tax consequences referred to above. If a Non-U.S. holder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the shareholder in the United States.
Certain Potential Tax Reporting Requirements. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. A shareholder who fails to make the required disclosure to the IRS may be subject to adverse tax consequences, including substantial penalties. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Call Options. The Fund’s covered call options generally will be treated as options governed by Code Section 1234. Pursuant to Code Section 1234, if a written option expires unexercised, the premium received is short-term capital gain to us. If the Fund enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the amount paid to close out the Fund’s position and the premium received for writing the option is short-term capital gain or loss. If a call option written by us is cash settled, any resulting gain or loss will generally be short-term capital gain or loss.
The Code contains special rules that apply to “straddles,” defined generally as the holding of “offsetting positions with respect to personal property.” For example, the straddle rules normally apply when a taxpayer holds stock and an offsetting option with respect to such stock or substantially identical stock or securities. In general, investment positions will be offsetting if there is a substantial diminution in the risk of loss from holding one position by reason of holding one or more other positions. If two or more positions constitute a straddle, recognition of a realized loss from one position must generally be deferred to the extent of unrecognized gain in an offsetting position. In addition, long-term capital gain may be recharacterized as short-term capital gain, or short-term capital loss as long-term capital loss. Interest and other carrying charges allocable to personal property that is part of a straddle are not currently deductible but must instead be capitalized. Similarly, “wash sale” rules apply to prevent the recognition of loss by us from the disposition of stock or securities at a loss in a case in which identical or substantially identical stock or securities (or an option to acquire such property) is or has been acquired within a prescribed period.
S-69
To the extent that any of the Fund’s positions constitute tax straddles which do not qualify as a “qualified covered call” under Section 1092(c)(4), the impact upon the Fund’s income taxes will include: dividends received on the long common stock leg of the straddle may not be eligible for distributions that qualify as “qualified dividend income” or for the corporate dividends received deduction, the Fund will generally realize short-term gain or loss on the long common stock leg of the straddle (to the extent losses are not otherwise deferred) and, realized losses on either the long common stock or the written (short) option legs of the straddle may be deferred for tax purposes to the extent that both legs of the straddle are not closed within the same tax year.
In general, a “qualified covered call option” is an option that is written (sold) with respect to stock that is held or acquired by a taxpayer in connection with granting the option which meets certain requirements, including: the option is exchange-traded or, if over-the-counter, meets certain IRS requirements, is granted more than 30 days prior to expiration, is not “deep-in-the-money” (within the meaning of Section 1092), is not granted by an options dealer (within the meaning of Section 1256(g)(8)) in connection with the option dealer’s activity of dealing in options, and gain or loss with respect to such option is not ordinary income or loss. Provided the Fund’s covered calls meet the definition of qualified covered call options and are not part of a larger straddle, the general tax straddle holding period termination rules will not apply. As a result, dividend income received with respect to the long common stock leg of the straddle may be eligible for qualified dividend income and corporate dividends received deduction treatment (assuming all other relevant requirements are met). In addition, the general tax straddle rules requiring loss deferral and the capitalization of certain interest expense and carrying charges will not apply. Qualified covered call option positions are, however, subject to special rules in the case of options which are in-the-money (but still not “deep-in-the-money”) or for positions which are closed near year end (and not within the same year end).
The Fund may enter into transactions that would be treated as “Section 1256 Contracts” under the Code. In general, the Fund would be required to treat any Section 1256 Contracts as if they were sold for their fair market value at the end of the Fund’s taxable year, and would be required to recognize gain or loss on such deemed sale for federal income tax purposes even though the Fund did not actually sell the contract and receive cash. Forty percent of such gain or loss would be treated as short-term capital gain or loss and sixty percent of such gain or loss would be treated as long-term capital gain or loss.
The Code allows a taxpayer to elect to offset gains and losses from positions that are part of a “mixed straddle.” A “mixed straddle” is any straddle in which one or more but not all positions are Section 1256 contracts. The Company may be eligible to elect to establish one or more mixed straddle accounts for certain of its mixed straddle trading positions. The mixed straddle account rules require a daily “marking to market” of all open positions in the account and a daily netting of gains and losses from all positions in the account. At the end of a taxable year, the annual net gains or losses from the mixed straddle account are recognized for tax purposes. The net capital gain or loss is treated as 60 percent long-term and 40 percent short-term capital gain or loss if attributable to the Section 1256 contract positions, or all short-term capital gain or loss if attributable to the non-Section 1256 contract positions.
S-70
The Fund’s transactions in options will be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by us (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital, or short-term or long-term), may accelerate recognition of income to us and may defer the Fund’s losses. These rules could, therefore, affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) will require us to mark-to- market certain types of the positions in the Fund’s portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), and (b) may cause us to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirement for qualifying to be taxed as a RIC and the distribution requirement for avoiding excise taxes. The Fund will monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in the Fund’s books and records in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent the Fund’s disqualification from being taxed as a RIC.
Other Issues. The Fund may be subject to tax or taxes in certain states where the Fund does business. Furthermore, in those states which have income tax laws, the tax treatment of the Fund and of Fund shareholders with respect to distributions by the Fund may differ from the federal tax treatment.
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the provisions of the Code and the Treasury Regulations based on federal tax laws and regulations that are in effect on the date of this SAI as they directly govern the taxation of the Fund and its shareholders. These provisions are subject to change by legislative and administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal, foreign, state and local income or other taxes based on their particular circumstances.
The Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore has no performance history or financial information as of the date of this SAI. The audited financial statements for the Fund will appear in the Trust’s Form N-CSR filed with the SEC and on the Fund’s website when available. When available, you may request a copy of the Fund’s financial statements at no charge by calling (855) 994-4437.
S-71
Standard & Poor’s Corporation
DESCRIPTION OF CREDIT RATINGS
A brief description of the applicable Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by S&P) follows:
Long-Term Debt
An S&P corporate or municipal debt rating is a current assessment of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This assessment may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers or lessees. The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor. The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable. S&P does not perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or based on other circumstances. The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:
1. | Likelihood of default-capacity and willingness of the obligor as to the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation; |
2. | Nature of and provisions of the obligation; and |
3. | Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights. |
Investment Grade
AAA | Debt rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong. |
AA | Debt rated “AA” has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree. |
A | Debt rated “A” has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories. |
BBB | Debt rated “BBB” is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories. |
A-1
Speculative Grade Rating
Debt rated “BB”, “B”, “CCC”, “CC” and “C” is regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal. “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics these are outweighed by major uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB | Debt rated “BB” has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The “BB” rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied “BBB” rating. |
B | Debt rated “B” has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The “B” rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied “BB” or “BB” rating. |
CCC | Debt rated “CCC” has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The “CCC” rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied “B” or “B” rating. |
CC | The rating “CC” typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied “CCC” debt rating. |
C | The rating “C” typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied “CCC” debt rating. The “C” rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued. |
CI | The rating “CI” is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid. |
D | Debt rated “D” is in payment default. The “D” rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized. |
Plus (+) or Minus (-): The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
A-2
Provisional Ratings: The letter “p” indicates that the rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the successful completion of the project financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful and timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood of, or the risk of default upon failure of, such completion. The investor should exercise judgment with respect to such likelihood and risk.
r | The letter “r” is attached to highlight derivative, hybrid, and certain other obligations that S&P believes may experience high volatility or high variability in expected returns due to non-credit risks. Examples of such obligations are: securities whose principal or interest return is indexed to equities, commodities, or currencies; certain swaps and options; and interest only and principal only mortgage securities. The absence of an “r” symbol should not be taken as an indication that an obligation will exhibit no volatility or variability in total return. |
L | The letter “L” indicates that the rating pertains to the principal amount of those bonds to the extent that the underlying deposit collateral is Federally insured by the Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corporation or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation* In the case of certificates of deposit the letter “L” indicates that the deposit, combined with other deposits being held in the same right and capacity will be honored for principal and accrued pre-default interest up to the Federal insurance limits within 30 days after closing of the insured institution or, in the event that the deposit is assumed by a successor insured institution, upon maturity. |
NR | Indicates no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy. |
Commercial Paper
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Ratings are graded into several categories, ranging from “A-1” for the highest quality obligations to “D” for the lowest. These categories are as follows:
A-1 | This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation. |
A-2 | Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated “A-1.” |
A-3
*Continuance of the rating is contingent upon S&P’s receipt of an executed copy of the escrow agreement or closing documentation confirming investments and cash flow.
A-3 | Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely payment. They are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations. |
B | Issues rated “B” are regarded as having only speculative capacity for timely payment. |
C | This rating is assigned to short-term debt obligations with a doubtful capacity for payment. |
D | Debt rated “D” is in payment default. The “D” rating category is used when interest payments or principal Payments are not made on the date due, even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. |
A commercial rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor. The ratings are based on current information furnished to S&P by the issuer or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable.
S&P does not perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in or unavailability of such information or based on other circumstances.
Preferred Securities
AAA | This is the highest rating that may be assigned to a preferred stock issue and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay the preferred stock obligations. |
AA | A preferred stock issue rated AA also qualifies as a high quality fixed income security. The capacity to pay preferred stock obligations is very strong, although not as overwhelming as for issues rated AAA. |
A | An issue rated A is backed by a sound capacity to pay the preferred stock obligations, although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions. |
BBB | An issue rated BBB is regarded as backed by an adequate capacity to pay preferred stock obligations. Although it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to make payments for preferred stock in this category for issues in the A category. |
BB | As issue rated BB is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay the preferred stock obligation. While such issues will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, they are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. |
A-4
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
A brief description of the applicable Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody’s) follows:
Long-Term Debt
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for corporate and municipal long-term debt:
Aaa | Bonds are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt edged.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the Fundamentally strong position of such issuer. |
Aa | Bonds are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the “Aaa” group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in “Aaa” securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in “Aaa” securities. |
A | Bonds possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium-grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. |
Ba | Bonds considered medium-grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well. |
Ba, B, Caa, Ca, and C Bonds that possess one of these ratings provide questionable protection of interest and principal (“Ba” indicates some speculative elements; “B” indicates a general lack of characteristics of desirable investment; “Caa” represents a poor standing; “Ca” represents obligations which are speculative in a high degree; and “C” represents the lowest rated class of bonds). “Caa,” “Ca” and “C” bonds may be in default.
A-5
Con. (—) Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some act or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally. These are bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction, (b) earnings of projects unseasoned in operation experience, (c) rentals which begin when facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition attaches. Parenthetical rating denotes probable credit stature upon completion of construction or elimination of basis of condition.
(P) | When applied to forward delivery bonds, indicates that the rating is provisional pending delivery of the bonds. The rating may be revised prior to delivery if changes occur in the legal documents or the underlying credit quality of the bonds. |
Note: Those bonds in the Aa, A, Baa, Ba and B groups which Moody’s believes possess the strongest investment attributes are designated by the symbols, Aa1, A1, Ba1 and B1.
Short-Term Loans
MIG 1/VMIG 1 | This designation denotes best quality. There is present strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated broad based access to the market for refinancing. | |
MIG 2/VMIG 2 | This designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group. | |
MIG 3/VMIG 3 | This designation denotes favorable quality. All security elements are accounted for but there is lacking the undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow protection may be narrow and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established. | |
MIG 4/VMIG 4 | This designation denotes adequate quality. Protection commonly regarded as required of an investment security is present and although not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is specific risk. |
S.G. | This designation denotes speculative quality. Debt instruments in this category lack margins of protection. |
Commercial Paper
Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Prime-1 repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
· | Leading market positions in well-established industries. |
· | High rates of return on Fund employed. |
· | Conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection. |
· | Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation. |
A-6
· | Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity. |
Issuers rated Prime-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained. Issuers rated Prime-3 (or related supporting institutions) have an acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market composition may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and the requirement for relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.
Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Preferred Securities Ratings
aaa | Preferred stocks which are rated “aaa” are considered to be top quality. This rating indicates good asset protection and the least risk of dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stocks. |
aa | Preferred stocks which are rated “aa” are considered to be high grade. This rating indicates that there is reasonable assurance that earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well maintained in the foreseeable future. |
a | Preferred stocks which are rated “a” are considered to be upper-medium grade. While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the “aaa” and “aa” classifications, earnings and asset protection are, nevertheless, expected to be maintained at adequate levels. |
baa | Preferred stocks which are rated “baa” are judged lover-medium grade, neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Earnings and asset protection appear adequate at present but may be questionable over any great length of time. |
ba | Preferred stocks which are rated “ba” are considered to have speculative elements and their future cannot be considered well assured. Earnings and asset protection may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during adverse periods. Uncertainty of position characterizes preferred stocks in this class. |
A-7
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Tortoise Capital Series Trust
Item 28. Exhibits
C-1
(7) | Amendment to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement(**) | ||
(8) | Services Agreement with PINE Advisors LLC(5) | ||
(9) | Mutual Fund Servicing Agreement(6) | ||
(i) | Opinion and Consent of Counsel(**) | ||
(j) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm(**) | ||
(k) | Not Applicable | ||
(l) | Not Applicable | ||
(m) | (1) | ETF 12b-1 Plan(8) | |
(2) | Updated ETF 12b-1 Plan(10) | ||
(3) | Mutual Fund 12b-1 Plan(6) | ||
(n) | Rule 18f-3 Plan(6) | ||
(o) | Reserved | ||
(p) | (1) | Code of Ethics for the Registrant(4) | |
(2) | Code of Ethics for Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C.(4) | ||
(3) | Code of Ethics for Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC.(5) | ||
(q) | Powers of Attorney(3) |
(1) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File Nos. 811-23997 and 333-281752) filed on August 23, 2024. |
(2) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File Nos. 811-23997 and 333-281752) filed on October 15, 2024. |
(3) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 811-281744 and 333-23997) filed on October 18, 2024. |
(4) | Incorporated by reference to the Pre-Effective Amendment to the Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 811-23997 and 333-281744) filed on December 6, 2024. |
(5) | Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 811-23997 and 333-281744) filed on February 14, 2025. |
(6) | Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 811-23997 and 333-281744) filed on February 14, 2025. |
(7) | Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 811-23997 and 333-281744) filed on May 9, 2025. |
(8) | Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 811-23997 and 333-281744) filed on June 13, 2025. |
(9) | Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 811-23997 and 333-281744) filed on July 11, 2025. |
(10) | Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 18 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 811-23997 and 333-281744) filed on July 25, 2025. |
(*) | Filed herewith. |
(**) | To be filed by amendment. |
C-2
Item 29. Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control with Registrant
Not applicable.
Item 30. Indemnification
Section 9.5 of Article IX of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust, as amended, provides as follows:
Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 9.5, every Person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust, including Persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents or independent contractors of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by such Trustee or officer of the Trust in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which such Trustee or officer of the Trust becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his or her service in such capacity. The Trust may, with the approval of the Trustees, provide such indemnification and advance of expenses to a Person who served a predecessor of the Trust in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust. No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to the extent such indemnification is prohibited by the 1940 Act.
The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a Person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a Person.
Subject to applicable federal law, expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 9.5 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that the recipient is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 9.5.
To the extent that any determination is required to be made as to whether a Covered Person engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not provided as described herein, or as to whether there is reason to believe that a Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification, the Person or Persons making the determination shall afford the Covered Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in such conduct and that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
As used in this Section 9.5, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, demands, actions, suits, investigations, regulatory inquiries, proceedings or any other occurrence of a similar nature, whether actual or threatened and whether civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals, and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
C-3
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to Trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, Officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, Officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser
Reference is made to the caption “Management of the Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information constituting Part B of this Registration Statement.
This item incorporates by reference the investment adviser’s Uniform Application for Investment Advisers Registration (“Form ADV”) of Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (SEC File No. 801-61622).
This item incorporates by reference the investment sub-adviser’s Uniform Application for Investment Advisers Registration (“Form ADV”) of Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC. (SEC File No. 801-70485).
Item 32. Principal Underwriters
(a) | Quasar Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended: |
1. | Abacus FCF ETF Trust |
2. | Advisor Managed Portfolios |
3. | Antares Private Credit Fund |
4. | Capital Advisors Growth Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
5. | Chase Growth Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
6. | Davidson Multi Cap Equity Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
7. | Edgar Lomax Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
8. | First Sentier American Listed Infrastructure Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
9. | First Sentier Global Listed Infrastructure Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
10. | Huber Large Cap Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
11. | Huber Mid Cap Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
12. | Huber Select Large Cap Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
13. | Huber Small Cap Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
14. | Logan Capital Broad Innovative Growth ETF, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
15. | Medalist Partners MBS Total Return Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
16. | Medalist Partners Short Duration Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
17. | O'Shaughnessy Market Leaders Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
18. | PIA BBB Bond Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
19. | PIA High Yield (MACS) Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
20. | PIA High Yield Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
21. | PIA MBS Bond Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
22. | PIA Short-Term Securities Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
C-4
23. | Poplar Forest Cornerstone Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
24. | Poplar Forest Partners Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
25. | Pzena Emerging Markets Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
26. | Pzena International Small Cap Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
27. | Pzena International Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
28. | Pzena Mid Cap Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
29. | Pzena Small Cap Value Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
30. | Reverb ETF, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
31. | Scharf Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
32. | Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
33. | Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
34. | Shenkman Capital Floating Rate High Income Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
35. | Shenkman Capital Short Duration High Income Fund, Series of Advisors Series Trust |
36. | The Aegis Funds |
37. | Allied Asset Advisors Funds |
38. | Angel Oak Funds Trust |
39. | Angel Oak Strategic Credit Fund |
40. | Brookfield Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. |
41. | Brookfield Investment Funds |
42. | Buffalo Funds |
43. | DoubleLine Funds Trust |
44. | EA Series Trust (f/k/a Alpha Architect ETF Trust) |
45. | AAM Bahl & Gaynor Small/Mid Cap Income Growth ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
46. | AAM Brentview Dividend Growth ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
47. | AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
48. | AAM S&P 500 High Dividend Value ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
49. | AAM Sawgrass U.S. Large Cap Quality Growth ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
50. | AAM Sawgrass U.S. Small Cap Quality Growth ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
51. | AAM SLC Low Duration Income ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
52. | AAM Transformers ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
53. | Acquirers Deep Value ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
54. | Aptus Collared Investment Opportunity ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
55. | Aptus Deferred Income ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
56. | Aptus Defined Risk ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
57. | Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
58. | Aptus Enhanced Yield ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
59. | Aptus International Enhanced Yield ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
60. | Aptus Large Cap Enhanced Yield ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
61. | Aptus Large Cap Upside ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
62. | Bahl & Gaynor Dividend ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
63. | Bahl & Gaynor Income Growth ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
64. | Bahl & Gaynor Small Cap Dividend ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
65. | BTD Capital Fund, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
66. | Carbon Strategy ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
67. | ClearShares OCIO ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
68. | ClearShares Piton Intermediate Fixed Income Fund, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
69. | ClearShares Ultra-Short Maturity ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
70. | Distillate International Fundamental Stability & Value ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
71. | Distillate Small/Mid Cash Flow ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
72. | Distillate U.S. Fundamental Stability & Value ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
73. | ETFB Green SRI REITs ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
C-5
74. | Hoya Capital High Dividend Yield ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
75. | Hoya Capital Housing ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
76. | LHA Market State Tactical Beta ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
77. | LHA Market State Tactical Q ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
78. | LHA Risk-Managed Income ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
79. | McElhenny Sheffield Managed Risk ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
80. | NETLease Corporate Real Estate ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
81. | Opus Small Cap Value ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
82. | The Acquirers Fund, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
83. | The Brinsmere Fund - Conservative ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
84. | The Brinsmere Fund - Growth ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
85. | U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
86. | U.S. Global JETS ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
87. | U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
88. | U.S. Global Technology and Aerospace & Defense ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
89. | US Vegan Climate ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
90. | Vest 10 Year Interest Rate Hedge ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
91. | Vest 2 Year Interest Rate Hedge ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions |
92. | First American Funds Trust |
93. | FundX Investment Trust |
94. | The Glenmede Fund, Inc. |
95. | The GoodHaven Funds Trust |
96. | Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. |
97. | Hennessy Funds Trust |
98. | Horizon Funds |
99. | Hotchkis & Wiley Funds |
100. | Intrepid Capital Management Funds Trust |
101. | Jacob Funds Inc. |
102. | The Jensen Quality Growth Fund Inc. |
103. | Kirr, Marbach Partners Funds, Inc. |
104. | Core Alternative ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust |
105. | Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust |
106. | Wahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust |
107. | LKCM Funds |
108. | LoCorr Investment Trust |
109. | MainGate Trust |
110. | ATAC Rotation Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
111. | Coho Relative Value Equity Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
112. | Coho Relative Value ESG Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
113. | Cove Street Capital Small Cap Value Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
114. | Jackson Square Large-Cap Growth Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
115. | Jackson Square SMID-Cap Growth Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
116. | Kensington Active Advantage Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
117. | Kensington Defender Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
118. | Kensington Dynamic Allocation Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
119. | Kensington Hedged Premium Income ETF, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
120. | Kensington Managed Income Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
121. | LK Balanced Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
122. | Leuthold Core ETF, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
123. | Leuthold Core Investment Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
124. | Leuthold Global Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
C-6
125. | Leuthold Grizzly Short Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
126. | Leuthold Select Industries ETF, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
127. | Muhlenkamp Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
128. | Nuance Concentrated Value Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
129. | Nuance Mid Cap Value Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
130. | Olstein All Cap Value Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
131. | Olstein Strategic Opportunities Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
132. | Port Street Quality Growth Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
133. | Principal Street High Income Municipal Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
134. | Principal Street Short Term Municipal Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
135. | Reinhart Genesis PMV Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
136. | Reinhart International PMV Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
137. | Reinhart Mid Cap PMV Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
138. | Tortoise Global Water ESG Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
139. | Tremblant Global ETF, Series of Managed Portfolio Series |
140. | Greenspring Income Opportunities Fund, Series of Manager Directed Portfolios |
141. | Hood River International Opportunity Fund, Series of Manager Directed Portfolios |
142. | Hood River New Opportunities Fund, Series of Manager Directed Portfolios |
143. | Hood River Small-Cap Growth Fund, Series of Manager Directed Portfolios |
144. | SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF, Series of Manager Directed Portfolios |
145. | SanJac Alpha Low Duration ETF, Series of Manager Directed Portfolios |
146. | SWP Growth & Income ETF, Series of Manager Directed Portfolios |
147. | Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate ETF, Series of Manager Directed Portfolios |
148. | Mason Capital Fund Trust |
149. | Matrix Advisors Funds Trust |
150. | Monetta Trust |
151. | Nicholas Equity Income Fund, Inc. |
152. | Nicholas Fund, Inc. |
153. | Nicholas II, Inc. |
154. | Nicholas Limited Edition, Inc. |
155. | Oaktree Diversified Income Fund Inc. |
156. | Permanent Portfolio Family of Funds |
157. | Perritt Funds, Inc. |
158. | Procure ETF Trust II |
159. | Professionally Managed Portfolios |
160. | Prospector Funds, Inc. |
161. | Provident Mutual Funds, Inc. |
162. | Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
163. | Abbey Capital Multi-Asset Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
164. | Adara Smaller Companies Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
165. | Aquarius International Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
166. | Boston Partners All Cap Value Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
167. | Boston Partners Emerging Markets Dynamic Equity Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
168. | Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
169. | Boston Partners Global Sustainability Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
170. | Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
171. | Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
172. | Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
173. | Campbell Systematic Macro Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
174. | F/m 10-Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
175. | F/m 2-Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
C-7
176. | F/m 3-Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
177. | F/m Emerald Life Sciences Innovation ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
178. | F/m High Yield 100 ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
179. | F/m Investments Large Cap Focused Fund Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
180. | F/m Opportunistic Income ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
181. | F/m Ultrashort Treasury Inflation-Protected Security (TIPS) ETF Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
182. | Motley Fool 100 Index ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
183. | Motley Fool Capital Efficiency 100 Index ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
184. | Motley Fool Global Opportunities ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
185. | Motley Fool Mid-Cap Growth ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
186. | Motley Fool Next Index ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
187. | Motley Fool Small-Cap Growth ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
188. | Optima Strategic Credit Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
189. | SEG Partners Long/Short Equity Fund |
190. | SGI Dynamic Tactical ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
191. | SGI Enhanced Core ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
192. | SGI Enhanced Global Income ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
193. | SGI Enhanced Market Leaders ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
194. | SGI Global Equity Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
195. | SGI Peak Growth Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
196. | SGI Prudent Growth Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
197. | SGI Small Cap Core Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
198. | SGI U.S. Large Cap Core ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
199. | SGI U.S. Large Cap Equity Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
200. | SGI U.S. Small Cap Equity Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
201. | US Treasury 10 Year Note ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
202. | US Treasury 12 Month Bill ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
203. | US Treasury 2 Year Note ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
204. | US Treasury 20 Year Bond ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
205. | US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
206. | US Treasury 3 Year Note ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
207. | US Treasury 30 Year Bond ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
208. | US Treasury 5 Year Note ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
209. | US Treasury 6 Month Bill ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
210. | US Treasury 7 Year Note ETF, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
211. | WPG Partners Select Hedged Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
212. | WPG Partners Select Small Cap Value Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
213. | WPG Partners Small Cap Value Diversified Fund, Series of The RBB Fund, Inc. |
214. | The RBB Fund Trust |
215. | RBC Funds Trust |
216. | Rockefeller Municipal Opportunities Fund |
217. | Series Portfolios Trust |
218. | Tax-Exempt Private Credit Fund, Inc. |
219. | Thompson IM Funds, Inc. |
220. | Tortoise Capital Series Trust |
221. | Bright Rock Mid Cap Growth Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
222. | Bright Rock Quality Large Cap Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
223. | CrossingBridge Low Duration High Income Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
224. | CrossingBridge Nordic High Income Bond Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
225. | CrossingBridge Responsible Credit Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
226. | CrossingBridge Ultra-Short Duration Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
C-8
227. | RiverPark Strategic Income Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
228. | Dearborn Partners Rising Dividend Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
229. | Jensen Global Quality Growth Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
230. | Jensen Quality MidCap Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
231. | Rockefeller Climate Solutions Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
232. | Rockefeller US Small Cap Core Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
233. | USQ Core Real Estate Fund |
234. | Wall Street EWM Funds Trust |
235. | Wisconsin Capital Funds, Inc. |
(b) | The following are the Officers and Manager of the Distributor, the Registrant’s underwriter. The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101. |
Name | Address | Position with Underwriter |
Position with Registrant |
Teresa Cowan | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101 | President/Manager | None |
Susan LaFond | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101 | Vice President/Chief Compliance Officer – Distribution Services/Treasurer | None |
Christopher Lanza | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101 | Vice President | None |
Kate Macchia | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101 | Vice President | None |
Weston Sommers | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101 | Chief Financial Officer and Financial and Operations Principal | None |
Kelly Whetstone | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101 | Secretary | None |
(c) | Not applicable. |
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
All accounts, books and other documents required by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules thereunder are maintained at:
5901 College Boulevard, Suite 400, Overland Park, Kansas 66211 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Tortoise Capital Series Trust).
Item 34. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 35. Undertakings
Not applicable.
C-9
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the city of Overland Park, and State of Kansas on this 19th day of September, 2025.
Tortoise Capital series trust | ||
By: | /s/ Tom Florence | |
Tom Florence | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated have signed the Registration Statement below.
Signatures | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Tom Florence | Principal Executive Officer and Trustee | September 19th, 2025 | ||
Tom Florence | ||||
/s/ Peter Sattelmair | Principal Financial Officer and | September 19th, 2025 | ||
Peter Sattelmair | Principal Accounting Officer | |||
* | Trustee | September 19th, 2025 | ||
Andrew J. Iseman | ||||
* | Trustee | September 19th, 2025 | ||
John C. Maxwell | ||||
* | Trustee | September 19th, 2025 | ||
Carrie Ramirez Schoffman | ||||
* | Trustee | September 19th, 2025 | ||
Keith A. Fletcher | ||||
/s/ Jeffrey Kruske | Attorney-In-Fact | September 19th, 2025 | ||
Jeffrey Kruske |
* | An original power of attorney authorizing, among others, Jeffrey Kruske to execute this registration statement, and amendments thereto, for each of the Trustees of the Registrant is filed, has been executed and is incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024. |
C-10
Exhibit Index
C-11